Of the New Ruling Elite?

politics and labour A taste of the jackboot of the new ruling elite? Ebrahim Harvey looks at the political ramifications of the demonstrations by anti-privatisation activists outside the home of former trade unionist turned Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo. empting as it is to many on the millions out of work, decent and this question in the affirmative. left one cannot justifiably say affordable housing for all, the It is with this question in mind that I T that nothing or little has uninterrupted supply of very basic turn to the arrest, manhandling and changed in South Africa since 1994. In social services, such as electricity, water jailing of many protesters outside the a general sense a great deal of positive and sanitation, for those who did have home of the executive mayor of democratic, constitutional, institutional access to it and the access to it for Johannesburg, Amos Masondo in April and legislative changes have taken those who did not have it before, free 2002. Among the protesters – which place under the ANC-led government. and/or affordable education, health and included pensioners and children – But the critical question that must be other social services. Unfortunately – were members of the Soweto Electricity posed is: has this avalanche of changes and which is the biggest blight upon Crisis Committee (SECC), Rob Rees, an in many fields translated into jobs for our democracy – one cannot answer official with the South African Municipal Vol 26 Number 3 41 June 2002 The black ruling elite has not hesitated to act against protesters with the jackboot that we were so familiar with under apartheid Masondo in his days as a unionist. Workers Union (Samwu) and Trevor she was not even present at the denied bail for ten days (due to political Ngwane, expelled former councillor of protest. All this while the bodyguard of pressure, perhaps?). Apparently, it was the ANC and leading activist of the Masondo – who had fired live only after Masondo’s bodyguard opened Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF). The ammunition into the crowd and injured fire on the protesters that things turned protesters wanted to present a some protesters – walked freely after ugly. Such action is not only enough to memorandum to Masondo regarding simply making a statement to the anger opposition but to seriously the spate of water and electricity cut- police. undermine the positive changes, which offs poor families in Soweto and other This picture is so reminiscent of the have occurred since 1994. places around the country have had to way protesters were dealt with under Masondo was reported as saying the endure. This has been done by the apartheid and is a graphic, sad and protesters were ‘misguided radicals’. municipal authorities, under the brutal reminder of the fact that though This statement shows scant regard for direction of the ministries of Finance we are into the eighth year of a the valid concerns raised by them, and Provincial and Local Government. democracy – regarded as a ‘miracle’ – particularly the brutal insensitivity They wish to clamp down on defaulters workers and the poor are denied an towards the plight of poor people who who either receive highly inflated uninterrupted supply of electricity and have and will continue to suffer accounts or are unable to pay because water. The black ruling elite has not electricity and water cut-offs across the of high service charges, rate increases hesitated to act against protesters with country. The fact that Masondo is a and the subsequent effects of rising the jackboot that we were so familiar former unionist raises serious questions poverty and unemployment in the with under apartheid. for the labour movement. The list of townships across our country. Though small by comparison, this former unionists (now in senior To make matters worse about 60 case perhaps more than any other prior government positions and business) children and pensioners, who were protest against privatisation and spate who have effectively turned their backs arrested during the process were only of electricity and water cut-offs, has on the very needs of the working class released upon urgent request the shown what the SECC, the APF and they fought hard for not long ago, is following day. The remainder were other progressive forces are up against. extensive. Though the trend is more refused bail until they appeared in court In an article last year, I wrote, ‘The ANC- visible with former Cosatu unionists ten days later. A press statement by led government will most likely be who, like Masondo, are leading ANC Cosatu reported that the grounds upon forced to suppress the fight waged by members occupying senior positions in which they were denied bail was that others to obtain what it has been the government, it has in fact unfolded the police needed time to verify the unable to deliver.’ What should be of across the entire trade union and addresses and refused to accept the great concern to all who want a more political spectrum. This raises a critical addresses given, including the union fundamental social transformation – question: what are the underlying address given by Rees. And if that was where basic needs are provided for all – motive forces that drive former leaders not enough Cosatu reported that a is the fact that though this protest in no – and in many cases strong, committed member of the APF, who went to the way threatened the authority and safety and leading working class fighters – to police station to arrange legal of Masondo, the protesters were shot at go against the class they not only assistance, was also arrested though by his bodyguard and unnecessarily represented yesterday but were born Vol 26 Number 3 42 June 2002 politics andpolitics labour and labour ‘The list of former unionists (now in senior government into? It is the reverse of the positions and business) who have effectively turned their ‘class suicide’ that some writers earlier referred to in backs on the very needs of the working class they fought terms of revolutionary hard for not long ago, is extensive …’ intellectuals of the bourgeoisie and petit bourgeois crossing over to the side of worked in the unions and knew them so stark that not even their bigger the working class. It is a class betrayal will tell you that they underwent an majority secured in the 1999 election that no amount of hoodwinking can incredible sea change. They are now can deny. succeed in concealing. ensconced at the top of the white- One would have thought that aside What is significant is that this dominated bourgeois corporate world, from the depressing poverty most betrayal (notwithstanding the in the guise of black economic township people suffer, worsened by predictably defensive and even enraged empowerment. It will not be an huge cost of living increases this year, reaction from certain quarters to this exaggeration to say that the combined and the fact that government has allegation) is not a detached political annual earnings of Golding, Ramphosa promised communities a certain reaction but one firmly rooted in either and Charnley – all from the National quantity of free water and electricity orchestrating or succumbing to the Union of Mineworkers – is probably since 2000, they would have sensitively fundamental compromises the ANC has more than that of hundreds of tempered their approach to these basic made. By virtue of the privileged mineworkers whom they not long ago but combustible issues. Instead we material and social status the new served, at a salary of five or six have seen a spate of water and ruling elite now enjoy – in stark thousand rands per month, which is electricity cut-offs around the country, contrast to the gruelling poverty of today probably not even what they pay sometimes under armed guard. It is a most citizens, including their own in taxes. We need to begin to profound historical irony that it was not supporters – they are compelled to understand the underlying factors and long ago that the ANC condemned and defend the political, and in the final forces that shaped these changes, little fought the unjust policies and brutal analysis the economic system that of which has arisen in debates and repression of the previous hated underlie the compromises. These analysis thus far. The brief for research apartheid regime. And now that they trappings of power – augmented by the in this regard should be to unearth the have achieved power they are acting overwhelming political dominance of structures and trappings of power and against those who are still fighting for the ANC – are powerful motive forces its material base in the wider context of fulfilment of the same basic needs they that propelled the changes activists globalisation, the demise of Stalinism fought for under apartheid and which underwent when they moved into and the resultant retreat of the left in the ANC government have been unable leading government and business order to understand why this radical to satisfy to the extent demanded. This positions. But we cannot omit what is change has occurred. This is not the makes their rallying and electioneering perhaps the real causal basis of this Amos Masondo I worked alongside in slogan of ‘A better life for all’ and the distinct reactionary trend: the definite the unions in the early ’80s. demands in the Freedom Charter a loss of revolutionary hope and morale But are the forces that largely brutal mockery. And so the struggle that followed the cataclysmic changes determine the neoliberal economic, continues. Only this time it appears to in the former Stalinist Soviet Union and public and social policies of the ANC- be led not by the ANC on behalf of the East European states, the overturn of led government so dominant that they masses but by the masses against the nationalised property relations and the (the ANC) fail or refuse to see that it is ANC government.

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