labourSouth African bulletin December 2019/January 2020
Protest as political voice: Historical perspectives on youth politics
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and climate change: A roadmap to joblessness
The Uber platform and the app economy: Implication for labour, fair tax and social justice
Ensuring decent work in the digital age: A sharing and distributed economy The state of the with a shared and distributed ownership youth 25 years into democracy
Bringing you critical labour analysis since 1974 Editorial EDITOR FROM THE
This dual issue of the South African Labour Bulletin focuses on two themes: The State of the Youth 25 Years into Democracy and Unpacking the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
he issue begins by the most vulnerable labour seek to launch an analysis of our examining the state force as 58.2% are unemployed. present future. We have seen the Tof the youth, as well While we have seen aggrieved youth in Sudan, Chile, Hong Kong, as what it reveals about our communities taking to the streets France, Iraq, Beirut, and Bolivia young democracy and how it for better service delivery and to name a few, also take to the is experienced by the working job creation; it is surprising streets for the common cause of class youth. This issue, combined that the youth voter turnout social justice. with the 4IR issue, is about during elections is noticeably Despite the grim picture of the our present future! It is the low. That is why this issue first South African economy and its unrevealing project of creating repositions the understanding dire implications for the status of a nation that is underpinned of youth political participation. economic and social justice, by a zeal for social justice but Firstly, by dispelling the post government has thrown a spanner is this social justice, promised voting national chorus that the in the works with its push for the through a democratic process of South African youth is politically Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) voting, enough? Does it centre apathetic. This view draws from as a means of advancing the SA the dreams and aspirations of its a particular statistical concern economy and subsequently young people? Does it cater for (see Sibiya and Ncopo; Mthunzi; alleviating social ills. In this issue the working class that struggled Heffernan in this issue) from the we unpack what the 4IR is and for the birth of democracy? The decreasing voter turnout. The aim to understand the optimism answers perhaps lie in South youth has been active in political about technology in production, Africa’s recent economic trends mobilisation that involves service artificial intelligence, and the revealed by the 2019 medium delivery, as will be shown in this internet of things when we do not term budget speech. The South issue: the Alex Shutdown, the even appear to have surpassed African economy in 2019 is said to emergence of the Soweto Action our current social and economic be growing by 0.5%; missing the Committee, youth mobilisation conditions. Is this talk about the 1.5% forecasted by the national in the education sector with the 4IR a chimera to hide the fact budget speech in February 2019. Fees Must Fall Movement #FMF, that the private sector is also The unemployment rate in the 3rd the environmental movement involved in the large scale quarter peaked at a record high including the September 2019 unemployment we see today? This of 29.1%, the highest in over 16 worldwide strike (see Morgan) is why centring the struggles of years. This roughly translates to and mobilisation against gender the working class is important, 6.7 million unemployed people. based violence (see Mntambo because to understand the future This high unemployment rate and Nkwanyana; Tsotetsi). This one has to understand the current is even affecting those who are is perhaps the nature of working conditions of the working class! supposed to be enjoying this class politics today, it speaks to democracy, those aged 15–24, a number of ‘general’ or ‘broad’ uMbuso weNkosi who according to Stats SA are issues that cannot be ignored if we Managing Editor
December 2019/January 2020 1 The South African Labour Bulletin’s mission is to: On politics and economics • provide information and stimulate critical analysis and debate on issues and challenges that confront Youth, politics and the myth of political apathy workers, their organisations and their Anthony Tolika Sibiya and Hlumelo Ncopo ...... 4 communities; and • communicate this in an accessible Intsha, ezombusazwe, nenkolelo yokuthi osemusha akanandaba nezepolitiki and engaging manner. U-Anthony Tolika Sibiya noHlumelo Ncopo ...... 7 In so doing the SALB hopes to advance progressive politics, promote social Nothing less than a youth-led revolution will change the deteriorating justice and the interests of the lives of the youth in SA working class. Zama Mthunzi ...... 10
Copyright © Umanyano Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this The need for integrated food and health policies to tackle ‘hidden hunger’ publication may be reproduced in any Brittany Kesselman...... 13 form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, Climate crisis perspective: Moving beyond the National Democratic Revolution? without permission in writing from Ashley Nyiko Mabasa ...... 16 Umanyano Publications. Putting the demos back in democracy Published by Umanyano Publications Courtney Morgan...... 19 89/00595/23 ISSN03775429 Technological revolutions and the demands of the South African proletariat Physical Address: Mondli Hlatshwayo ...... 22 16–20 New South Street Renaissance Centre The danger of techno-optimism: What the hype around the Fourth Floor 5, Ditsela, Ghandi Square Industrial Revolution gets wrong about jobs and prosperity Marshalltown, Johannesburg Hannah J. Dawson ...... 25 2001 The Fourth Industrial Revolution a ‘fait accompli’ as a euphemism for restructuring? Postal Address: PO Box 3851, Johannesburg, 2000 Can labour still influence the agenda? A perspective. South Africa Hameda Deedat ...... 27
Email: [email protected] The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the continued plight of the working class Web: southafricanlabourbulletin.org.za Bhabhali Ka Maphikela Nhlapo ...... 30
Managing Editor: uMbuso weNkosi Design: Blue Apple Publishing Printing: Novus Holdings In the past Editorial Board: Chris Bonner, Molly Dhlamini, Protest as political voice: Historical perspectives on youth politics Jane Barrett, Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen, Anne Heffernan ...... 33 Neo Bodibe, Janet Munakamwe, Khwezi Mabasa, Musa Malabela and 2019 Interns: Nomusa Nkwanyana, Sithembiso Mdlalose and Isaac Dumi In the community
Honorary Board Members: Interview with Lerato Portia Mogapi (Soweto Action Committee (SAC) secretary) Edward Webster, Adam Habib and Skhumbuzo Tshabalala ...... 36 Karl von Holdt
The views expressed by contributors Interview with Ntlakanipho Mndiyata (Wisdom) of Abahlali Basemjondolo are not necessarily those of the uMbuso weNkosi ...... 39 editorial board of Umanyano Publications. Alex Shutdown Nomusa Nkwanyana...... 41 SA Labour Bulletin would like to thank the following organisations for their Lamentations on the curation of the urban space support: Strengthening Civil Society Mpho A. Ndaba ...... 44 Fund (Department of Labour), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). #AmINext: Gender activism that brought the country to a standstill Cover image: Lindokuhle Parmisser Nokukhanya N Mntambo and Nomusa Nkwanyana ...... 47
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and climate change: A roadmap to joblessness Courtney Morgan ...... 50
2 SA Labour Bulletin In the union
The Confédération des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publiques et Privé CTSP Youth Union Members ...... 53
Transnational worker solidarity: Building an African-European network in Lear Corporation Elijah Chiwota, Carmen Ludwig and Kenneth Mogane ...... 57
Learning factories in the digitalisation of work Anna Conrad and Manfred Wannöffel ...... 60
The Uber platform and the app economy: Implication for labour, fair tax and social justice Ashraf Patel ...... 63 Across the globe
Ensuring decent work in the digital age: A sharing and distributed economy with a shared and distributed ownership Parminder Jeet Singh ...... 65
Ukukhiqizwa kwemisebenzi eyanele ngalesi sikhathi sedijithali Parminder Jeet Singh ...... 67
Hong Kong: Liberals, where are you? Frank Hoffer ...... 70
Digital trade policy: BRICS agenda Tatiana Flegontova ...... 73 Unlocking labour laws
Addressing violence and harassment in the workplace Boitumelo Tsotetsi ...... 77 After work
Book Review: Bridget Kenny. 2018. Retail Worker Politics, Race and Consumption in South Africa. Palgrave Macmillan uMbuso weNkosi ...... 80
The world of your creation Isaac Dumi ...... 83 Tributes and obituaries
A tribute to Robert Lambert Edward Webster ...... 86
A tribute to Adrienne Bird Chris Bonner and Jenny Grice ...... 89
December 2019/January 2020 3 ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 4 SA Labour Bulletin politics (seeLevin 2005; Breakfast, disengaging from South African that young peopleareslowly theorising amountstothe idea andallthisexamined atlength spaces hasbeentheorised and future.dreary theory, ofa thistellsthestory people undertheageof35. In did notregistertovote areyoung is 6-millionpeople)ofthosewho us thattheestimated60%(which (IEC). to worrying Itiscertainly Commission Independent Electoral and thisissquarelyblamedonthe awareness amongSouth Africans, this protest, fromlackof ranging reasonsforThere arevarying exercise right. theirelectoral voters whodidnotregisterto is despitethe9.8-millioneligible 66% inthisyear’s elections. This by 7.5%, from73%in2014to hasdroppedsignificantly,turnout voting right. The overall election nottoexercisewho elected their arguably many young people declinewithshow anelectoral Africa andtheresultsthereof held on8May 2019inSouth elections The nationalgeneral INTRODUCTION of political apathy Youth, politics and themyth The youth apathy inpolitical democratic South Africa. democratic areplayingacriticalroleinreconstructingthenew that community-based organisations apathetic. Instead, the youth isinvolvedinsocialjusticemovementsandother the South theyouthispolitically generalelectionsdoesnot mean that African national youth-voterturnoutin thelow Anthony TolikaSibiyaandHlumeloNcopoarguethat Vol 43Number 2and3 that consciousness stillexists in South ourresolveAfrica affirms student politicsacrossuniversities contrary, thereorganisation of democracy.strengthen Onthe to facilitatesocialjusticeand systemasaninstrument electoral deficitonthe atrust demonstrates politics about party/electoral South Africa. thenew democratic reconstructing that areplaying acriticalrolein community-based organisations social justicemovements andother non-governmental organisations, in otheralternative platforms, i.e. young peopleareheavily involved politics,disengaging fromelectoral South Africa. of activism, amongtheyouth in lack ofconsciousness, northeend argue thatdoesnotsignifythe involvement,political party we disengagement indemonstrated that young peoplehave inpart turnout. While we acknowledge of2019’saftermath low election apathy’ inthe asarticulated on thealleged ‘youth political this article, we focus atlength Bradshaw andHaines2017). In To us, thisinsouciance While theyouth appearstobe inadequate. is notonlysimplisticbutalso decline solely ontheelectoral politics.party To measureapathy among young people, albeitnotin of unemployment. Infact, this failed toreduce thescourge or approacheshave drastically that government interventions sustain thedominantnarrative unemployment crisis seem to who have commented onthis this reality. Somecommentators figures by StatsSA(2019)confirm a ‘crisis level’ andthelatest unemployment hasnow reached the discoursethatyouth mean thereorganisation ofpolitics. apathy; we aterm retheorisedto alleged tobetheyouth’s political that may give risetowhatis toconditions due consideration unemployment. Inaway, we give represented by indicators, suchas highlight thestateofyouth as of thisarticle. However, we briefly because thatisbeyond thescope review ofthestateyouth, to provide acomprehensive In thissection, we donotintend STATEOF THEYOUTH There isconsensusin ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS
The few available critical voices remain unheard and unknown by the key social commentators. Instead of being heard and engaged, young people are characterised as ungrateful for the struggles waged for their liberation and, ultimately, their electoral right.
THE DIMINISHING VALUE OF YOUTH POLITICAL FORMATIONS There has been a consistent decline in youth political formations, which attests to the reality that young people do not have trust any more in political parties as the drivers and agents of social justice and development. Although there is youth political formation in the mainstream political landscape, it suffers from Wits Fees Must Fall protests, February 2019. Credit: Sithembiso Mdlalose clear political vision, ethics, and positive political codes of conduct. scourge of unemployment has The continued sense of Consequently, the youth that stubbornly increased yearly. exclusion of youth and its negative eventually becomes active in these We, therefore, implore the representation resembles what directionless youth formations tend present administration to declare Fine and Weise in the late 90s to use these formations to advance unemployment a national characterised as the unknown their narrow political careers. catastrophe. For example, in city. Such negative representations In our view, the value of youth 2019 (second quarter), youth give credence to what others political formations appears to be unemployment stands at (56.4%) equate to the state of the youth diminishing and losing currency while unemployment is the as a state of being lost or a in the political discourse. We highest for youth without a lost generation. These eminent reckon that political mother matric (57%) and lowest for those writers (Fine and Wiese 1998) bodies alienate and suffocate with any tertiary education and depicted a thoroughly frightening young people. In some cases, training (18.3%). Furthermore, picture of young people in the youth political formations are led approximately 3.3-million out USA displayed in the media as by proxies, thus our view that of 10.3-million young people the reason behind the national contemporary politics, perhaps, is aged 15–24 years are not in problems facing their society. about forming intact networks than employment, education or Like in the USA in the 1990s, the effecting social change. To expect training; this category of youth sense of hopelessness, frustration, the same youth, made toothless has increased by (0.7%) from and impatience among the and with no sense of commanding 2018 to 2019 (Statistics South South African youth is, to some voice or critical political value, Africa 2019). The picture remains extent, aggravated by some social to drive and marshal the general perilous. conditions and thus a loss of hope populace to party electoral Some legislative and policy in political-institutional structures fortunes, is impractical. instruments, such as the National to help i.e. electoral systems. For If we consider all these problems Youth Policy (2015), brought about instance, unemployment,which faced by the youth, does it not resounding hope. However, these we have cited already, and many justify their decision to boycott policy instruments remain without other social ills create negative electoral politics? We surely do an implementation plan. This lack sentiments and attitudes among not support the stay-away protest of implementation planning has the youth. We contend that there approach in dealing with these made these policy instruments is a gap regarding the critical problems, for this approach is border on an incoherent response voice/s in the public discourse counter-revolutionary; instead we to a range of deprivations in young to champion the cause of the need to unpack a series of factors people’s lives. despondency among the youth. in relation to the youth’s decision
December 2019/January 2020 5 ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 6 SA Labour Bulletin in mainstream youth formations. causedby thedecline opportunism years ofapoliticallullandcareer youthinvigorated after activism education, which inourview have Fees MustFall movements inhigher should take solacefromtherecent or new politicalideas. Thus, we no longeraccommodatedissent politics,structured whichseemto politics,structured orparty- and assuch, they arebetterthan all kindsofpoliticalopinion, their outlook, aresitesthatallow politicised, in asthey areliberal Universities beingtraditionally CULTURES AND NEWIDENTITIES REKINDLING YOUTH UNIVERSITIES people inSouth Africa. consciousness amongtheyoung signify thedeathofactivism, nor doesnot support in electoral play, we postulatethatthedecline declines. participation electoral –thusincreasing of theirconcerns mobilising theyouth istheleast disputes,with intraparty therefore, inward-looking andpreoccupied formations, atthismoment, are put itdifferently, youth political to boycott politics. electoral To Having narrated the factors at Having thefactors narrated SRC demonstrations for the transformation oftheuniversity, forthetransformation SRC demonstrations 2017. Credit: SithembisoMdlalose Vol 43Number 2and3 universities andtheirsocieties. injustices intheto correct in highereducationsought student-led (youth) movements thattheIt isinthiscontext thosehistoricinjustices.correct to issufficient democracy liberal questioningwhetherbeen left can becorrected, many have means by whichthoseinjustices perceived asafacilitatorof have elections democratic been a greatdealofinjustice. While African societiesanduniversities narrative (Hodes, 2016). half-cooked politicalapathy institutions stronglyrefutesthe divides inhigher-learning mobilisation acrosspolitical Correspondingly, thesuccessful the state(Baragwanath, 2016). include breakingthelaws of especially whenthey donot just societyarenotcriminalised, bloodshed. Rightstostrike for a of thestateemergency or still strong. Dissentisnotacause South post-apartheid Africa is in thatdemocracy demonstrates fees must fallmovement dominant narrative thatthe History bequeatheduponSouth History In thisregard, thereisa [email protected] (NMU),2011. University atNelsonMandela President Hlumelo Ncopoisaformer SRC [email protected] (NMU), 2011. Mandela University (SRC) atNelson DeputyPresident Council Student Representative Anthony Tolika Sibiya isaformer apathetic. that theyouth isnotpolitically national elections, we arecertain priortothisyear’sactivism led movements andtheirdifferent youth.general Basedontheyouth- to mobiliseandresonatewiththe mainstream youth politicalvoices this may beduetotheweakened might nothave voted, andpartly, democracy.participatory The youth rights, andmeaningful facilitating socialjustice, human effectiveness in ofelections much-needed debateaboutthe impoverishes andthe thecountry political apathy. This storyline signalsyouth support electoral narrative thatadeclinein authority. We disputethe those inpower andapositionof ofthe lackoftrustworthiness political statement, whichdecries vetounderstand theelectoral asa principles andvalues. We needto withdemocratic country something thatisacrimein regard theyouth veto electoral as that itisagrossmisreadingto to achieve objectives. We reckon elections, whichtake alongtime incomparisonto run short youth canachieve activism ina education give insightstowhat student-led movements inhigher are notpolitically ‘aligned’ and youth-led socialmovements that We, therefore, concludethat CONCLUSION myth ofyouthmyth politicalapathy. of youth, whichdebunksthe capabilities andpoliticalagency these movements underscorethe It isourconsideredopinionthat
ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 7 December 2019/January 2020 Ukuntuleka kwemisebenzi Ukuntuleka kwemisebenzi ISIMO SENTSHA yesilandiso ngxenye Kule asizukuchaza kabanzi zonke izinkinga zentsha ngoba lokhu kulandisa akuphathelene kunjalo sizodingida Yize nalokho. zinkinga zentsha ngokusebenzisa isilinganiso sokushoda Ngamanye kwemisebenzi. amagama sibheka ukuthi yini okungenzeka ukuthi iyona intsha ingabi imbangela yokuthi nokukhathazeka ngezepolitiki. Ukungakhombisi ukukuthakasela ukubusa kithi kusho ukuthi izindlela ezikhona zokubusa kufanele ziphinde zihlolisiswe. kakhulu futhi kwaziwa yentsha yabikwa. iye imiphumela yayo Izibalo ezisanda kushicilelwa ababezibalo (i-Stats SA [2019])_ Abanye zigcizelela le nhlekelele. ukuthi bakholelwa ochwepheshe izinqubomgomo zikahulumeni lesi zehlulekile ukugwema saba sibhicongo esivele Iqiniso kuleli. ngumdlavuza ukuthi le nkinga yokushoda ibikade inyuka kwemisebenzi Ngakho-ke njalo ngonyaka. sicela abaphathi baleli lizwe le nhlekelele ukuthi babheke lonke. ezweni njengeyinkinga Noma ngabe kunezici lokhu kwehluleka Kuthina ikhombisa ukungabi nendaba lokhu akusho nepolitiki kepha intshiseko ukuthi intsha ayinayo Afrika ibuswa iNingizimu yokuthi kanjani. zokungakhathaleli mayelana nezokubusa kubantu abasha ngezinto uma kukhulunywa kumele futhi ezithinta ukuphatha, ukuthi nentsha kwamukelwe uma kukhulunywa inentshiseko ngezinhlangano ezingahambisani izinhlangano ezigxile nohulumeni, nokuhamba kubulungiswa nezinhlangano kanye kwezwe, zemiphakathi okuyizona eziletha eNingizimu lwangempela uguquko Afrika yamanje. kumaqembu kokuzibandakanya nokungathembi kanye wezepolitiki uhlelo lokhetho kuhlangana Uma nokungathembi osopolitiki. sibheka lokhu kusuka kolunye uhlangothi sibona ukuthi abafundi banentshisekelo basenyuvesi kuzindaba zezepolitiki noma namaqembu bayazihlanganisa Ukugxila eqinisweni ezepolitiki. lokuthi osemusha akanandaba nokuxazulula izikinga ngoba inqubo akuyona akazange avote le nkinga. enhle yokuqonda
baphetha Sibiya noHlumelo Ncopo U-Anthony Tolika esiphansi ngokuthi isibalo ukuthiAfrika asisho lwaseNingizimu okhethweni lukazwelonke sokubakhona kwentsha intsha iyazibandakanya ezinhlanganweni Esikhundleni salokho, nezepolitiki. intsha ayizwani zemiphakathi nakwezinye izinhlangano ezikhathalelainhlala-kahle yabantu ezidlala indima Afrika yentando yeningi. enkulu ekwakhiweni kabusha kweNingizimu Kuningi okubhaliwe mayelana mayelana okubhaliwe Kuningi ISINGENISO abanjwe Amakhetho alonyaka kuNhlaba ngosuku lwezi-8 kwamanani akhombise ukwehla ikakhulukazi intsha. kubavoti kwabavoti ukwehla Sekukonke, kungu-7.5% okusho ukuthi lesi sibalo sisuka ku-73% ka-2014 Lezibalo nyaka. ku-66% walo saya abayizigidi azifaki abavoti eziyi-9.8 obekufanele bavote. eziningi zalokhu Kunezizathu neKhomishini ukunganaki kodwa kumele Ezimele Yokhetho ubuhlungu Kusizwisa isolwe. kakhulu ukubona ukuthi abantu eziyisithupha zabavoti abayizigidi abangabhaliselanga ukuvota yintsha engaphansi kweminyaka lokhu akulandisi Konke engu-35. indaba enhle ngekusasa. futhi nokungajabuli kwentsha lokhu kukhomba ukuthi konke intshiseko intsha ayinayo we-2005; nakancane (hlola u-Levin no-Haines kanye u-Bradshaw kulandisa Kulokhu we-2017). sigxile kakhulu kulokho okudume kakhulu ‘ukungakhathalelingokuthi iningi okuyinto eshiwo kwentsha’ okhethweni abavoti selokhu kwehle Impela siyavuma nyaka. lwalo isikhathi ukuthi intsha kwesinye
osemusha akanandaba nezepolitiki akanandaba osemusha Intsha, ezombusazwe, nenkolelo yokuthi yokuthi nenkolelo ezombusazwe, Intsha, ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 8 SA Labour Bulletin sokusweleka kwemisebenzi kanye Okujwayelekile kulesisimo phakathi uhlelolokhetho. izimpilo zabo. Lokhu kufaka njengezikhungo ezingaguqula kumaqembu wezepolitiki sokuthi badumaleumakuziwa okungachaza lesisizathu isiphelelwe isineke kuhulumeni, idangele, ikhungathekile, futhi yama-1990s, intshayalelizwe NjengaseMelika ngeminyaka zomphakathi waseMelika. yimbangela yezinkinga ukuthi abantuabashabaseMelika abantu abanolwazi, bachaze ukuthi iyaphi. U-Fine noWiese, imizwa yokuthi intshaayazi ndlela yokuveza abantuigcizelela ‘izizukulwane ezilahlekile’. Le noWiese abakubizengokuthi kuyafana nalokhouFine nhlekelele yentsha. ngokwanele ukuxazululale zibonakale sengathiazizinhle azisetshenziswa kwenza ukuthi Ukuthi lezinqubomgomo zokuzisebenzisa azenziwanga. azisetshenziswa ngobaizindlela Ngeshwa lezizinqubomgomo inyuse ithembakubantuabaningi. kazwelonke Yentshaka-2015 ezinjengeNqubomgomo nezinqubomgomo ezithile asithokozisi nhlobo. kuya ku-2019. Lesisithombe 0.7% ukusukangonyaka ka-2018 mkhakha ukhulecishengo- Ngokwezibalo zango-2019lo imfundo nomaukuqeqeshwa. engafisi ukuqashwa, ayinayo zentsha esukaku-15kuye ku-24 eziqhamuka kwizigidieziyi-10.3% kwalokhu yizigidiezingama-3.3% uma sebebonke. Ngaphezu okuphezulu, bafikelela ku-18,3% noma laboabanokuqeqeshwa abaneziqu zaseyunivesithi kuma-57%.yilabo Abangcono sibi ngobaumabebalwa bafika umatikuletsheni isimosabo ku-56,4%. Kulabo abangenawo lokungasebenzi kwentsha limi Isibonelo salokhuukuthiizinga Lokhu kuqhubekakokunganaki Eminye imithetho Vol 43Number 2and3 kwegazi. ngomphumela wokuchitheka labo lokuvota latholakala nokuthi abaziukuthiilungelo batshelwa ukuthiabanambongi ukuthi baxoxe ngezikhalozabo balalelwe futhi bavunyelwe Esikhundleni sokuthiabasha abahamba kulomgwaqo. kubo ukuthibalalelwe yilabo abaziwa kahlefuthikunzima abagxile ezinkingenizentsha nentsha.ezibhekene Abambalwa esikhuluma ngezinselelo alinaso isikhulumiesinamandla Ngokubona kwethu izwe nombono ongemuhlengokuphila. zenhlalo, ukuthiosemushaabe nezinye izinkinga ezingezinhle amakhulu ezepolitiki, okucacayo abadala abaqhamuka emaqenjini azizibusi zibuswa ngabantu uhlangothi, izinhlangano zentsha ezibhekene nesizwe. Ngakolunye iveze izisombululoezinkingeni zingayivumeli intsha ukuthi ziyinkinga enkulunjengoba ukuthi izinhlanganoezinkulu kazwelonke. Sikholwa enkulumweni yezepolitiki zinhlangano azisakhulunywa kukhonjiswa isimosokuthilezi futhi muva njelokhu izinhlangano zentshaziyancipha ekuthuthukiseni amagamaabo. futhi igcinangokugxilakakhulu ukuthi kunganiukupolitiki nokudideka ivamile ukukhohlwa zabasha yizeiyingxenye yosizi kanjani. Intshaekulezinhlangano umphakathi wabo ubabone izinselelo zabo, nokuthibafuna izinhlelo zawo zomsebenzi, kusamele achazekabusha asekhona wabantu abasha yabo.nemiphakathi Amaqembu ezingashintsha izimpilozabo ezepolitiki njengezikhungo abasha abawathembi amaqembu futhi lokhukukhombisaukuthi zentsha sekuyinsakavuleka Ukwehla kwezinhlangano WENTSHA UKWEHLA KWAMAQEMBU Ngokubona kwethu elihlangabezana nazo. ayinalo ulwazi ngezinseleloizwe sibalo ukukhuthazaukuthiintsha kwentsha nomaukusebenzisalesi yokulinganisa ukungabinandaba akuyisona inkomba enhle sentsha mayelana namavoti kuyinkolelo yethu ukuthiisibalo konke esikubonekunesidingo, okhethweni. yentsha ukuthiingazibandakanyi Lesi sizathukungabayimbangela nakancane ukuzikhathazangazo. yezinkinga zaboabakhombisi kubo izintoezingeyona ingxenye nezinkinga zawo kuphela, futhi ezepolitiki wentsha anendaba ngokuhlukile, amaqembu lukazwelonke. Ukubekalokhu njengoba kulindelwe okhethweni osemusha angazibandakanyi izizathu eziholeleekutheni kufanele futhisiphenye kabanzi akusizi ngenqubekela phambili, nesenzo sokunganakingoba siphikisana yamaqembu? Yize kwentsha maqondananepolitiki ingabe azikuchaziyiniukudana zinkinga ezibhekene nentsha umqondo ophusile. okhethweni akukhombisis nabanye ukuthibabambeiqhaza kwezepolitiki futhiakhuthaze abe nomdlandlaumakuziwa ukuthi angabinamandlaokuba ukuthi osemushaowenziwe ngokungalutholi usizo. Ukufisa eminingi edingausizoigcina yale nkohlakalo imiphakathi emihle futhingeshwa ngenxa Lesi simoasivezi imiphumela abalingani bacebenjengabangani. ipolitiki njengentoeyenza ukuthi ukuthi lesisithombesibonisa ngokwemvelo, okwenza ngoba amanyuvesi anenkululeko zemibono evela kubafundi, izinhlobo ezahlukahlukene Ngokwesiko, amanyuvesi avumela EZIMPILWENI ZENTSHA NGOBA LIBALULEKEKAKHULU WENTSHALAMAQEMBU ELIDALA ISIKOAMANYUVESI AVUSELELA Ngemuva kokuba sesibikile Uma sibhekazonke lezi ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 9
December 2019/January 2020 Anthony Tolika Sibiya, Iphini Iphini Sibiya, Tolika Anthony eNelson likamongameli weSRC Mandela University (NWU) ngo- 2011. Xhumana nomlobi ku: [email protected] Hlumelo Ncopo, Umongameli Mandela eNelson we-SRC University (NMU) ngo-2011. Xhumana nomlobi ku: [email protected] yeziphathimandla. Siyayiphikisa Siyayiphikisa yeziphathimandla. ethi ngoba intsha incazelo iyiningi njengoba ayifikanga ezindaweni bekulindelwe ukuthi kusho zokuvota Le nezepolitiki. ayinandaba izinto ayisizi ndlela yokubuka sidinga lapho ngoba sisesimweni ukugxila Kuhulumeni amalungelo ngobulungiswa, nokuzibandakanya kanye abantu, yeningi. entandweni kwabantu iqhaza kokubamba Ukwehla kumele okhethweni kwentsha kuhambisane nokuguquleka zentsha kwezinhlangano emiphakathini ezigxile ekufundiseni abantu ukuvota ukuze nelungelo lokuvota kanye intando yeningi. kuqiniswe Njengoba sesichazile engxoxweni, intsha ibikade ikhombisa ukungahambisani nabaphathi kokhetho, ngaphambi bayo siphinde sisho ukuthi intsha isithombe esibonisa ayifanelwe ukuthi abanandaba nepolitiki. ISIPHETHO siphetha Ngakho-ke ngokuqinisekisa ukuthi amaqembu wentsha angaxhumene nepolitiki yamaqembu namaqembu avulwa abafundi basenyuvesi asikhombisa ukuthi intsha ngokubumbana ingathola okuyinto impumelelo esheshayo, ehlukile maqondana nokhetho ngoba iqiniso ukuthi ukhetho Sicabanga aluhlali lubanjwa. ukuthi isizathu sokuthi le ntsha ingazange ihambele ukhetho ukuthi kunezinkinga ezisadinga maqondana nokuthi ukulungiswa kanjani izinto zenziwa Kufanele yiziphathimandla. sithathe lesi sinqumo njengenye imiyalo indiva indlela yokushaya nabulungiswa kweminyaka kweminyaka nabulungiswa noma edlulile kusengaguqulwa, inani manje sekukhona kunjalo, labantu abakholelwa elikhulayo akunakwenzeka ukuthi lokhu Lesi isizathu ngohlelo lokhetho. bamanyuvesi sokuthi abafundi alwa amaqembu bavule emanyuvesi nalomlando omubi yabo. abo nasemiphakathini lezi ukuthi yethu Kuyinkolelo zikhombisa zinhlangano zentsha ukuthi nentsha isenentshisekelo Lokhu yakuleli. kwezepolitiki phansi inkolelo kucekela intsha ayinandaba yokuthi nezombusazwe. Umlando waseNingizimu Afrika Umlando Afrika waseNingizimu References: 362–366 Communication and the Public 1(3), Africa, Social media and contentious politics in South 2016. R. Baragwanath, Africa’s A case study of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, amongst students: apathy Political 2017. R. & Haines, G. Bradshaw, N.B., Breakfast, a172 5(1), Public Service Review and Performance Delivery 140–150 African Studies 42(1), Journal of Southern must fall”’, “fees Questioning 2016. R. Hodes, 25–42 3(2), Update Development and the elections, Youth politics: Opting out of organized 2005. M. Levin, The Presidency Pretoria: 2015–2020. Policy Youth National 2015. Policy. Youth National Stats SA Pretoria: (Data Set). Quarterly Survey. Labour Force 2019. Africa. Statistics South (De-industrializing Economy) class without work Working 1990. L. Weis, City The Unknown 1998. L. Weise, M and Fine, wenze ukuthi izakhamizi zimunce ukuthi izakhamizi zimunce wenze isikhathi esidlule esinobunzima. Abantu abaningi bakholelwa ukuthi ngokomthethosisekelo ukungabi yeningi wentando izinqubo zawo kulokhu kulokhu zawo izinqubo kunenqubo zibe ngcono ezepolitiki. yamaqembu iqembu kwethu Ngokubona selibuyisele le #FeesMustFall ngemuva impilo kwezombusazwe izinto bezithule isikhathi kokuba eside futhi obekuqhubeka sikhathi ukuthi lesi sonke bebezitika abaholi abonakele Lokhu kusho ngemali yentela. ukuthi kufanele kugcizelelwe #FeesMustFall ukuthi iqembu le eNingizimu yokuthi liyinkomba intando Afrika selokhu sathola yeningi le ntando yethu yeningi manje esingumnikazi wayo isenamandla futhi okwamanje Ukuthi abantu kahle. igcinwe nezinqumo abavumelani zikahulumeni akusho ukuthi uhulumeni kufanele athumele yamasosha okuletha inqwaba ukuhleleka emiphakathini noma ukuthi kufanele kuchithwe Inqobo nje uma kungekho igazi. ilungelo mthetho ophulwayo, lokubhikisha lamukeliwe. izishoshovu Ngaphezu kwalokho zabafundi baseyunivesithi zibulala umbono wokuthi abantu abasebasha abanandaba nezombusaswe. ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 10 A question iswhen? resolve theproblemsofyouth. The because onlytheyouth can a youth-led revolution isrequired noticeable changetotake place, the realityis, thatinorderfor a this active citizentry. However, The youth in oughttobecentral as away change. ofbringingforth while prescribingactive citizenship have becomeworse over theyears, political conditionsoftheyouth of how thesocial, economicand article, Iprovide adescription continue todeteriorate. Inthis young peopleinthiscountry apparent thatthelivelihoods of SA Labour Bulletin uninterested in theexisting more young people arebecoming in vain; they proved thatmoreand politics. wereThese concerns not elections, Parliament andgeneral in politicalprocessessuchas the by theyouthpoor participation aboutthe concerns affirmed were held. elections The general elections general 6th democratic democracy. Inthesameyear, the 25yearsAfrica iscelebrating of Six monthsinto2019andSouth POWER YOUTH AND the youthin SA will change thedeterioratinglives of Nothing less than ayouth-ledrevolution led revolution. continue todeteriorate. The problemsnotedinthisarticle willonlybesolvedbyayouth- South Africa today. 25yearsintodemocracy, Hearguesthat thelivelihoodsofyouth thesocial,Zama Mthunzilooksat economicandpoliticalconditionsoftheyouthin uprising, ithasbecome anniversary oftheJune16 s we the43rd celebrated Vol 43Number 2and3 that young people remained campaign), yet itbecameevident provide voter education(the ‘Xse’ to appealyoung peopleand youth-voter campaign registration Commission (IEC)alsohad a The IndependentElectoral process hasproven unfruitful. inthevotingpeople toparticipate enticing alarge numberofyoung to getyoung peopletothepolls, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) like thefrom politicalparties Even withmassive campaigns are saidtobeyoung people. of these10-millionvoters 60% did notpitchatthepolls, and 10-million registeredvoters who decline ofvoter isthe turnout contribution tothisgeneral not bothertoregister. Another voters (18or19year olds)did by 47%. A hugenumberofnew that youth-voter dropped turnout illustrate elections 2019 general corruption. politics asacatalystfor large-scale faced with, they view butrather of thematerialburdensthey are the potentialofalleviating some and organising inpoliticshave to thinkthatcriticalengagement people ofSouth Africa seemnot politics.formalised The young The lateststatisticsfromthe conditions facedby young people. significant changestothesevere tobring positions strategically how they areabletousetheir will onlymake senseonce we see meaning oftheirrepresentation naïve. Consequently, thetrue voice inParliament would be that they representanorganised from theiractivism, buttothink One doesnottake away anything parties.across thetopthreeruling in GautengmadeitintoParliament universities) fromeliteuniversities portrayed ashooligansoccupying Fall (whowere activists once a large groupofFees Must representation. Interestingly, that isusuallydonewithwomen this isjusttokenism, something Parliament. Onemight argue that in to jointhe6thadministration people inlarge numberswere South African history, young jubilant, asfor thefirsttimein youth vote, was thecountry processes ofthecountry. by thepolitical unconvinced 29% withthe youth andblack of2019,quarter from27.6%to increased by 1.4%fromthefirst South Africa’s unemployment rate UNEMPLOYMENT Parallel tothedeclinein ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 11 December 2019/January 2020 In the spirit of the general In the spirit of the general However, for those who are those who are for However, able to remain in permanent there are constant employment, complaints about racism and unfair treatment premised on arbitrary prejudices. an interesting elections, observation all political is how parties about jobs spoke as part of their strategy of not However, garnering votes. a single party directly spoke to the unprecedented rates of The ruling party retrenchment. remains a major contributor to At crisis. the unemployment the beginning of the election (labour- ‘butcher’ the campaign, ‘which is broking service, dedicated to reducing youth launched a unemployment’) the service, employment youth This labour- programme. ‘YES’ broking service being presented is a disgrace as employment very It takes the least. to say people on 12-month young few internships that do not guarantee This ultimately leads to This ultimately leads to The Fourth Industrial strained mental health. The The strained mental health. continual retrenchment is taking and skilled workers young, The graduates out of work. has been African economy South This has in a sustained slump. retrenchments, seen massive especially in the skilled sector. been leading this The banks have 10,000 with over job washaway retrenched in the second workers quarter of 2019. will soon replace Revolution This workers. young skilled, replacement has been widespread in the banking sector where FNB, big banks (Absa, the four Nedbank and Standard Bank) retrenchments called for have to digital banking. and moved The stereotype of retrenchment being associated with unskilled After labour is being challenged. ‘last in, goes as the saying all, and that is the reality first out’, of the relationship between in this country. and work youth women being most affected. being most affected. women Africa has 6.7-million South Today The people who are unemployed. 1.4 percentage point increase become means that 455,000 have figure this of course, unemployed; does not include the extended of people who unemployment or are to work are available or have seekers discouraged work not participatingother reasons for are If they in the labour market. this means that 38.5% are counted, 10.2-million Therefore, unemployed. in people in total are unemployed Africa! In the second quarter, South in the formal sectoremployment households declinedand private The informal 49,000 each. by however, sector and agriculture, recorded increases of 114,000 and of The youth 5,000 respectively. this country remain in a precarious position with the unemployment Unemployment rate raging at 55%. increasingis also fueled by retrenchments that are reported on and those that gothe daily news unannounced. The bleak state of our future present. Credit: Lindokuhle Parmisser Credit: The bleak state of our future present. ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 12 SA Labour Bulletin statistics SA’s youthunemployment The immensesufferingbehind minds aredestroyed atschool. arguing thatyoung people’s system a ‘cognitive genocide’, once calledtheSAeducation An educationprofessor atUKZN education remainsrockbottom. assessment, thestandardsof Study (PIRLS)orany other Readingin International Literacy world. Whether itistheProgress system remainstheworst inthe The South African schooling SCHOOL jobs comingfor young people! hope istobekind. There areno (NYDA). Agency To say thereisno the National Youth Development arehollow,platforms including employment. Even otheryouth root causeof alltheseproblems. arethepolicies inthis country for anyone orteach. tolearn The Surely thiscannotbeconducive gunsinschools.are now carrying killing eachother, andteachers beating upteachers, are learners our dailybread; are learners in ayear. illiteracyFidel Castro eradicated the Cubangovernment under and educationdepartments, e.g. and nowcompetentschools run education systemsinafew years countries thatchangedtheir This isflawed. We know ofmany he stillblamesBantuEducation? did) 5years later(2011)–and completed highschool(ifthey high school12years later(2006), six years later(2000), entered around 1994, went toschoolsay of 24, meaningthey were born areundertheage first quarter) unemployed (focusing onthe By hisown account, those Education canbesustained. analysis thatstillblamesBantu Surely, hecannotbelieve thatan who areyoung andunemployed. hopelessness heascribestothose Gideon Pogrund, inhisarticle School violencehasbecome , reflects onthe Vol 43Number 2and3 places ofprogressive struggles. wrong. Schoolsarenolonger there issomethingseriously is thiseven stillpossible?Clearly, die inpitlatrinesatschools. How immediately; in2019childrenstill are noplanstoaddressthem problems aremany andthere academic percentagetopass. The less marksortoscorealow willberequiredtohavelearners of Educationannounceshow and timeagain, theMinister and teacherabsenteeism. Time rates, low cultureoflearning problems like hugedropout able tosolve thelong-standing This iswhy we have notbeen they remainthesame. the morethings change, the more clearly unfinishedbusiness here; tackle theseproblems. There is has notbeenabletoregroup and state. The Fees MustFall movement down mightof the tothe brutal and studentsseemtohave bowed poor studentscontinuestorise, donations. of The dropoutrate andsurvive onfoodlibraries protests. the Fees Must Fall nationwide nothing hasreallychangedafter commit suicide. Itisclearthat depressed andwe have seensome are stillharassed, andsomeare of2015/16/17 demonstrations who have inthemass participated class andpoorfamilies. Students first-year studentsfrom working- offreeeducationfordeclaration PresidentJacobZuma’sformer universities have simplyignored financial exclusions. South African multiple shutdowns against of Technology (TUT)hasseen around NFSAS. Tshwane University be closeddown duetoprotests (WSU) Juneexaminations hadto The Walter SisuluUniversity historically blackuniversities. is intheso-called The struggle has gonebacktothefringes. forThe struggle freeeducation UNIVERSITY Poor studentsstillsleepin for young peoplesince ‘76. changenot broughtany structural argue thatyouth have struggles without dueprocess. Onecan retrenched over 500,000workers quarter, companieshave already market. Justinthesecond campanies toabusethelabour from thestatehave allowed The lackofcompany regulations profits over socialdevelopment. hascontinuedtoprioritisesector de-empowerment.private The of educationandyouth unemployment, poorstandands that hasreproduced continuous slumpoftheeconomy been abletodealwiththe hasnot party clear thattheruling based oncheapblacklabour. Itis maintain itseconomy thatis the South African youth to ofcommitted tothedestruction anditspolicies)are party (ruling power anditsinterests structure of the South integration African political leadership)andthe countinuous exclusion from poor standardsofeducation, themselves in(unemployement, crisis thattheyouth find reality ofthematteristhat organisation doesnotexist. The knowing thatayouth revolutionary uprisingswhile make continuousclarioncallsfor out revolutionary slogansand pit. Itis, ofcourse, easytothrow end ofthetunnel’. We areinthe withno to deteriorate ‘light atthe conditions aregoingtocontinue our subjective wishes. The concrete situationsandnotfrom make concreteanalysisfrom to thefore. We shouldalways to constantlybringourstruggles on theyouth makes itnecessary lack ofresponsestothisviolence allthat’sAfter saidanddone, the CONCLUSION Johannesburg, SouthAfrica. building institution basedin a socialjusticeandmovement- currently basedatKhanya College, Zama Mthunziisanactivist
ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 13 December 2019/January 2020 THE NEED TO INTEGRATE POLICIES TO INTEGRATE THE NEED African policies South date, To to address hunger and tended to malnutrition have be housed in the Department on Agriculture and to focus of whether increasing production, through urban agriculture or support to small-scale farmers The Department in rural areas. treats meanwhile, of Health, NCDs with medication and limited advice on prevention and management (through diet, There are virtually etc.). exercise, South no connections between agricultural policies and Africa’s despite the fact health policies, that diet is a major contributing factor of NCDs in to the growth recent years. to fresh vegetables, so cost so cost to fresh vegetables, their Instead, not an issue. was dietary shaped by practices were cooking skills, time constraints, knowledge nutrition fuel costs, and dietary norms in their In addition to the communities. of healthy cost and availability all of these factors to need food, South be addressed in order for Africa to address the double burden of malnutrition and NCDs. Many South Africans subsist subsist Africans South Many While conducting research with These include high levels of These include high levels and unemployment, poverty industrialisation of urbanisation, limited availability system, the food in low-income foods of healthy consumption and increasing areas, highly processed and of fast foods foods. on diets high in sugar and the Indeed, processed starch. Consumption National Food that among (1999) found Survey African children aged one South most commonly the to nine, white were consumed foods tea and milk. bread, maize, sugar, most South At the same time, the Africans consume far below daily Health Organization’s World recommended amount of 400 grams of fruits and vegetables. Such diets supply enough and in fact contribute calories, of obesity, to increasing levels in vitamins low are very but they do not meet and and minerals, nutritional needs. urban farmers in Johannesburg, their low surprised by I was consumption. of vegetable levels other urban residents, Unlike these farmers had free access
outh Africa is facing a outh crisis of hunger and food- Twenty-six related illnesses.
shows that South Africa is facing a crisis of hunger and food-relatedAfrica is facing showsBrittany Kesselman that South is a need for an integrated there and food of hidden hunger, solve this crisis To illnesses. others, and agriculture, development, social of health, departments The policy. health immediatetake to need problems the tackle to action partners, society civil with along food-based interventions. obesity and associated NCDs through holistic, of malnutrition, UNHEALTHY DIETS UNHEALTHY factorsA number of different to cause hidden hunger. converge
policies to tackle ‘hidden hunger’ tackle to policies The need for integrated food and health health and food integrated for need The
percent of South Africans are percent of South with another 28% insecure, food according to at risk of hunger, African National Health the South and Nutrition Examination Survey. About 26% of children are stunted, growth which means their lifelong is negatively and development theAt poor nutrition. affected by of obesity and levels same time, associated non-communicable such as type- diseases (NCDs), heart disease, 2 diabetes, hypertension some cancers, and are increasing – affecting growing Africans at numbers of South This double burden ages. younger on of hunger and poor nutrition, and obesity and the one hand, is indicative on the other, NCDs, It is also a crisis. of a food-system dignity Africans’ violation of South obesity Frequently, and basic rights. in the same and malnutrition exist the same households and even as a condition known people, ‘hidden hunger’. S ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 14 SA Labour Bulletin suggests thatsuchprescriptions Research fromtheUnitedStates the patientscanafford them. for andvegetables, fruits sothat prescriptions thatwork as vouchers eat better. arewriting Doctors to areas tohelppatientslearn provide cookinglessonsinwaiting to serve healthy meals andeven are creatingfood gardensinorder maintain health. Somehospitals changescanrestoreand dietary tounderstandhow doctors trains medicine the new field of culinary ideas. From the sideofhealth-care, examples forinternational some policies looklike? We candraw on What would theseintegrated EXAMPLES LEARNING FROMINTERNATIONAL 1 methods oftreatingNCDs. andnon-surgical) pharmaceutical prevention andtolower-cost (non- care costsby contributingto policies would reducehealth- (NHI).Health Insurance Such implementation oftheNational as South Africa moves toward policies shouldbeapriority A microsimulation study. PLoSMedicine16(3). See, for example, Lee, et al. 2019. Cost-effectiveness offinancial incentives for improving diet andhealththroughMedicareMedicaid: Integrated foodIntegrated andhealth A subsidisedfoodshopinBeloHorizonte, Brazil. Credit: Kesselman Brittany Vol 43Number 2and3 disease orhighcholesterol. medications for hypertension, heart cost-effective thanpreventive for healthy foods couldbemore to healthy food for consumers. scale producers, andbetteraccess sustainable livelihoods for small- chains. This would ensuremore outside ofthemajorretail alternative distributionchannels to also linksmall-scalefarmers services. Government should sponsored researchandextension very successfullythroughstate- Cuban government hasdone chemical inputs–somethingthe that donotrelyonexpensive methods agroecological production toundertake scale farmers small- policies shouldsupport 1940s. Inaddition, agricultural inthe period offood shortages African government duringa were implementedby theSouth –both ofwhich restaurants produce shopsorsubsidised for example, throughsubsidised address accesstohealthy food, tobetter increasing production need tolookbeyond simply In terms offood policies,In terms we 1
• • • • • include:programmes to enjoy therighttofood. These to ensurethatresidentsareable designed ofprogrammes range implementing acomprehensive years, BeloHorizontehasbeen ended hunger.’ For thepast25 has beencalled ‘the citythat security policies. As aresult, it foodintegrated andnutrition hunger throughinnovative, is aworld leader intackling The cityofBeloHorizonte, Brazil, ‘THE CITY THAT ENDEDHUNGER’
to supplyhealthy freshfood methods,production inorder those usingagroecological small-scale farmers, especially Public procurementfrom incomes whilelowering prices. middleman andthereby raising to consumers, cuttingoutthe toselldirectly scale farmers the city, whichenablesmall- markets of indifferent parts stallsandfarmers’Farm and oldagehomes). (suchascrèches programmes it andproviding ittosocial retailers, checkingit, processing discardedbyfood otherwise food waste by rescuing A food bank, whichreduces produce. people withlessaccesstofresh income areas, they target due totheirlocationsinlower- are opentoallresidents, but at subsidisedrates. The shops leasedfromthecity property private businesseslocatedon served areas. These shopsare andvegetablesfruits inunder- Shops sellingsubsidisedfresh homeless. residents andfreemealsfor the discounts for low-income are opentoall, withadditional the municipalgovernment and by arerun popular restaurants healthy mealsevery day. The thousands ofsubsidised Popular restaurants, serving ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 15 December 2019/January 2020 Brittany Kesselman is postdoctoral is postdoctoral Kesselman Brittany and Work Society, fellow, research Wits Institute (SWOP), Politics University. communication and government and government communication accountability.success of theseThe When the programmes is evident. programmespolicies and developed rolled out were in Belo Horizonte Fome as (known at national level BrazilZero or Zero Hunger) a notable decline inexperienced The hunger and malnutrition. the UN’s from country removed was though the hunger map in 2014, of theseabandonment of some well may level policies at national One of the gains. these reverse encouragingmost remarkable and food aspects of Belo Horizonte’s and nutrition security programme is which is less than 2% cost, its low Another is the budget. of the city’s degree of commitment and – cooperation of all actors involved government including various civil society departments, The and others. organisations useful lessons many model provides that could greatly benefit South The departments of health, Africa. and agriculture, social development, with civil society along others, immediate need to take partners, actionthe problems of to tackle obesity and associated malnutrition, food-based NCDs through holistic, interventions. A municipal farm stall in central Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Credit: Brittany Kesselman Credit: Brazil. A municipal farm stall in central Belo Horizonte, GOVERNMENT-CIVIL SOCIETY GOVERNMENT-CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS In discussions with the local officials activists and in Belo clear that at least was it Horizonte, factors the influenced three key and successful development and implementation of these food nutrition security programmes. organised, a highly One was of civil movement motivated society actors advocacy whose act. to pressed the government a committed local The second was its that acknowledged government obligations in terms of the right to willing to try and was food And the third, policies. innovative institutionalised mechanisms of civil society cooperation between as with as well and government, that ensured ongoing other actors, to schools, hospitals and other and other hospitals to schools, while institutions, government supporting of the livelihoods small-scale and family farmers. School lunches and school that children to ensure gardens, access to nutritious have or three per day meals (two learn at school) and that they production and about food age. nutrition from a young A people’s restaurant serving thousands of subsidised healthy meals every day in Belo Horizonte, serving restaurant meals every thousands of subsidised healthy day in Belo Horizonte, A people’s Brittany Kesselman Credit: Brazil. • On a research visit to Belo these how I saw Horizonte, access to programmes improve – a fresh fruits and vegetables measure in the fight against key They malnutrition and obesity. also support decent incomes for so that small-scale producers, on the land. are able to stay they environmentally In addition, sustainable production is encouraged through a policy that prioritises purchasing agroecologically farmed foods. This form of farming reduces the contribution of agriculture the Beyond to climate change. health and economic benefits, the programmes also support social cohesion through festivals communal eating spaces, featuring and cultural events and pleasant local dishes, neighbourhood spaces such as where markets local farmers’ people can meet the farmers who a sense and enjoy their food grow of community. ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 16 T SA Labour Bulletin oppression. Inassessing the South Africa’s nationaland class from thehistoricisationof RevolutionDemocratic is derived Most discourseontheNational POLITICS CLIMATE CRISIS AND CONGRESS Revolution? Democratic the National Moving beyond Climate crisis perspective cyclone Idai. encountered thedestructive Zimbabwe ofMalawi andpart 2019 thepeopleofMozambique, Thirdly, around8and9March not afford theboreholesystem. and theworking classwhocould the poor affecting water shortages to thecity’s increasing rapidly Cape Town’s Day Zero, whichled people. Secondly, we have seen resulted tothedeathtollof80 Cape’s catastrophicfloods, which KwaZulu-Natal’s andtheEastern early thisyear, we witnessed circumstances.21st century Firstly, societyinthe national democratic (NDR) vis-a-visbuildingofthe RevolutionNational Democratic for acritical assessmentofthe capitalism. There isan urgent need basedonthefossil-fuel century developmentalism ofthe20th (especially youth structures) to have anenvironmentallycentredpolicy(especially youthstructures)tohave approach. the environment. thereisaneed forthe Hearguesthat ANC anditsalliancepartners is centred on fossil fuels,promote an idea of development that like coal, which destroy Revolutioncontinuesto Democratic theNational how Ashley NyikoMabasalooksat fore the radical shift from fore shift the radical Tactics failstoputthe he ANC’s and 2007Strategy Vol 43Number 2and3 power-driven by electricity. South requirement of theminesis sourced fromcoal. The energy amount ofenergy, which islargely first. Mines requireamassive interest oftheminingindustry always beenaboutputting the energy complex (MEC)has energy. Historically, theminerals- ofcoaldepends ontheburning crisis. silent ontheissueofclimate of Students(SASCO), have been as theSouth African Congress organisations underthe ANC, such The ANCYL andotherstudent mitigation andadaptation. the absenceofclimatecrisis by the ANC anditsyouth, is Revolution, whichisadvanced with theNationalDemocratic capitalist matricesofproduction. question asameanstonegatethe oftheenvironment) (destruction theecocide to incorporate for Leninists andStalinists South countries. Itisimportant Revolution politicsintheGlobal failures ofpost-Soviet Union it iscriticaltodiscussthe struggle,in thepost-apartheid RevolutionNational Democratic Global economicaccumulation In addition, theproblem have also madenaturethe capitalist modes ofproduction argue thatEcological Marxists a socialiststate. However, the of theproletariatoccursunder the proletariat. This dictatorship the capitalists’ systeminfavour of thatwilloverthrowdictatorship of theproletariatresultingina will leadtotheconsciousness thatrelations ofproduction of theproductive forces and capitalism isthedevelopment arguing thatthegravedigger of haveClassical Marxists been oftheenvironment.degradation have alsocontributedtothe using batteries. energy, thatoperate orgenerators towardsshift adopting renewable produced by coal; thereisaslow massive scaleofmegawatts, isstill needsa our miningindustry coal; ourelectricity, ofwhich there isstillabiastowards using our mainsourcesofenergy, that oil, coal, gasandfuelremain great energy; anddespitethefact for civiclife,important requires processing minerals, whichare to beproductive; and crushing a greatdealofpower for them African miningindustriesrequire Multinational corporations ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 17
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5 December 2019/January 2020 In assessing the National In assessing the National outside of China, which is is which outside of China, implementing a national projectof modern industrial development in connection of family renovation with the so-called other agriculture, the emergent countries South of the on still walk only BRICS) (the are opposed to one leg: they depredations of militarized the globalization, but remain imprisoned straightjacket in the of neoliberalism. The recent emergence of BRICS of BRICS The recent emergence can be considered as a rejection of the global capital accumulation Europe the United States, by Does the emergence and Japan. of BRICS place the NDR into question? NDR undermines imperialism which Lenin regarded as the highest form of capitalism; is that BRICS the irony however, is an alliance of sub-imperialist countries. in the 21st Democratic Revolution autonomy the relative century, state as a African of the South sub-imperialist country must be The interrogated. relationship the sub-imperialist between countries within BRICS seeks to promote the international Sub-imperialist division of labour. Africa countries such as South capital depend on the productive of imperialist countries through the manufacturing industry while Therefore, the national the national Therefore, for intended was oppression with cheap global accumulation and the envisaged labour, struggle of NDR as anti-capitalists the object in nature and with of undermining the conducive global conditions of the An anecdote of accumulations. provided: this was appreciation appreciation of ‘non-capitalist’ and environment. life kinds of In addition, In addition, 3 In addition, the 2007 Strategy the 2007 Strategy In addition, and Tactics is not coherent is not coherent Tactics and to continue wants because it of South expropriation with the does It mineral resources. Africa’s of social ownership not call for meaning resources, renewable does that its class interest working class. the not reflect a is Power Mainstream Renewable consortium large its subsidiaries Old Holdings, H1 AREP, are Assurance Company, Mutual Life Brothers the Rockefeller Lekele, Fund and the International CorporationsFinance (IFC) and most of its funds are generated This from consortium ABSA. signed 27 independent power contracts. producers’ Mainstream is an Ireland-based Mainstream is an Ireland-based company renewable-energy and it has eight renewable- Africa. projects in South energy The project a combined has in the of R6.6 billion, investment 140 MW Kangnas project in the Northern Cape and in the 110 project East in the MW Perdekraal The beneficiaries Cape. Western in South energy of renewable Africa are the international and who have local bourgeoisie through the become bourgeois state. ASSESSING THE NATIONAL ASSESSING THE NATIONAL REVOLUTION WITHIN DEMOCRATIC BRICS SUB-IMPERIALISTS: In assessing the National discussion, Democratic Revolution the NDR seeks to undermine because imperialism imperialism, is dependent on extracting natural resources with machines the realisation of profit. for affirmedThis was by David that this who argued Harvey imperialism resembles the new greater recourse of accumulation dispossession through the by
1
2 2007 December “Building A National Democratic Society, Strategy and Tactics” 52nd National Congress of the ANC of the 52nd National Congress Tactics” Strategy and DemocraticA National Society, “Building 2007 December D Harvey, The New Imperialism, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003 Press, University Oxford Oxford: Imperialism, The New D Harvey, 2015 Contemporary Monthly Review, Imperialism: Amin, Samir https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-01-17-mantashe-in-xolobeni-a-master-class-in-coercive-dissembling/ 4 5 1 2 The ANC’s 2007 Strategy and 2007 Strategy and ANC’s The promised to build a Tactics national democratic society by state. building a developmental ASSESSING THE NATIONAL ASSESSING THE NATIONAL REVOLUTION DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIETY capitalist system’s gravedigger gravedigger system’s capitalist the depletion contending that by fuels that drive of the fossil that fossil shows industrialisation depleted because fuels become are used unsustainably; they of the and this unsustainability production capitalist modes of climate by is best highlighted destruction of ecosystem, change, etc. desertification, ³ https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/10509/ The ANC’s developmental state state developmental ANC’s The is premised on the burning of on the fuel and it takes fossil same route of the 20th century state. Asia developmental Eastern Strategy and ANC’s Here the contradictory shows logic Tactics that the state through arguing by the Mineral and Petroleum Act Resource Development must be the custodian (MPRDA) of the minerals beneath the soil. This is problematic because it perpetuates the Stalinists’ which approach of statism, promotes the repression of opposition or is against all the processes of challenging the relations of the state. power the Xolobeni Community Hence, in the Eastern Cape is fighting rejecting with the state by the mining in order to preserve At the same time environment. through the Department the state, spearheaded of Mineral Resources former Mantashe, Gwede by African chairperson of the South is Communist Party (SACP), international for capital lobbying place mining to take in order for in Xolobeni. ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 18 SA Labour Bulletin 9 8 7 6 Lenin’s theory. This was inspiredby interpretation ofthetwo-stage by the materialisticsupported type (CST), theCSTthesiswas the colonisationofaspecial global politicsandeconomics. BRICS nationsatthecentreof of thecapitalandaimstoplace insist ontheinternationalisation oppressions. Inthiscase, BRICS racial from benefits various capital accumulation, which NDR seekstorootouttheglobal productive forces. However, the istodevelopproduction of relationsandmeans The purposeofsocialisation socialisation ofproductive forces. socialism’, willresultinthe advance touninterrupted but provides abasisfor ‘an Charter, whichisnotsocialist production. UsingtheFreedom of themeansandrelations NDR argues for socialisation of theseneighbouringcountries. resources thenatural they extract the neighbouringcountrieswhile aspire tobedependeduponby the sub-imperialistcountries in theirregions; intheirregions, relations withtheirneighbours countries intheirinterstate the mechanicsofimperialist Sub-imperialist countriesuse from the sub-imperialist countries. resources natural on extracting the imperialistcountriesdepend which benefitsfrom various racialoppressions. productive forces. However, the NDR seeks to root out the global capital accumulation, The purpose of socialisation of relations and means of production is to develop for developing capitalism, which This firststage was necessary revolution.national democratic – commonlyreferred toasthe strugglenational democratic need toadvancing anintraclass Amisi, Bond, Kamidza, MaguwuandPeek: “BRICS, Anti-Capitalists Critique”, 2015 ANC, “Nature ofthe RulingClass” 1985 Ibid Lenin, 1917: The StateandRevolution In anattempttodealwith In relationtoBRICS, the 6 work ontheessential Vol 43Number 2and3 Nigeria. 2005, gasin inoilandnatural US$1.9 billionincoal, andin present in28countries, investing Brazil’s biggestcompanies, is are growing. Petronas, oneof interests in African minerals emergence ofBRICS. Brazil’s communism isdeferred by the towards socialismandeventually Europe. The NDR’s commitment Africa, Latin America andEastern this case, BRICShasinterestsin World Trade Organisation. In Fund (IMF), World Bankand Monetary to theInternational that BRICSisanalternative political organisation. creation ofanew economicand global capitalistdynamicsorthe have tobreakwiththe astrategy BRICS emerged. BRICSdoesnot in1994,national democracy stage tosocialismfromthe Conversely, inthetransitional tosocialism.ultimate transition for the necessary dissatisfaction for creatingapoliticalperfect demarcation’ created ‘class not the Western countries. sub-imperialist BRICScountries Mozambique isexploited by the Mozambique. The realityisthat coalto in Malawi totransport billion dealtobuildarailway thatrecentlysignedaUS$1Brazil in theworld, whichisowned by of thelargest miningcompanies isthecaseof country Vale, one Another take over ofan African of ahydroelectric power station. US$6 billionfor theconstruction inMozambique withEletrobras which isplanningtofinance Development Bank(BNDES), isthatof theBrazilianBrazil The radical left discourseis left The radical 7 Another caseinvolving Conference, attheir by theNDRin1985atKabwe years. Saharan Africa over five thenext invest aboutUS$5billioninSub- Nickel, Alrosa andRenova planto companies suchasRusAl, Norilsk speculated move is thatRussian Youth League(ANCYL)activist. NationalCongressand African (YCLSA)League ofSouthAfrica General andYoung Communist is aformerWits SRC Secretary- Studies.He Futures Emancipatory sociology. Heisfundedbythe student ineconomicsandlabour Ashley NyikoMabasaisamaster’s Ruling Class destroy theenvironment. exploit the working class and the nameofdevelopment, they could betheBRICScountries. In the West andlocal Afrikaners but classmight notbeentirelyruling beneficiariesofthe Contemporary enemy oftherevolution. classifiedruling classasthe the producer intheworld. is thethirdlargest platinum Africa’s LonminCompany, which also have aninterestinSouth African government. Renova may concluded adealwiththeSouth Renova Group, have recently (MNCs),corporations suchas countries. Russia’s multi-national and bourgeoisie oftheBRICS by thestate-owned companies isrepeatedThe 1885scramble on the for‘Scramble Africa’. Berlin Conference, whichdecided that BRICSresemblethe1885 in fact, Baruti Amisi contended are alsoscatteredaround Africa; In conclusion, the ANC, driven Furthermore, Russiancompanies 9 discussion, Nature ofthe 8 Another ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 19 December 2019/January 2020 WHAT IS THE CLIMATE CRISIS? THE CLIMATE IS WHAT The climate crisis is inherently Capitalism a capitalist creation. on is a system that thrives and in order creating a loser, has to be built on it to do this, Throughout history, exploitation. a portioncapitalism has found in order of society to exploit This is also true to gain profits. in which capitalism the way for It must nature. has exploited be noted that colonialism was not just a genocidal project that wiped out millions of people also it was around the world, the decimation responsible for of the natural environment, plundering of natural resources and the loss of indigenous species. of indigenous The exploitation peoples cannot be separated from of of their ways the exploitation living and the decimation of their only This ecocidal behaviour land. the with the onset of intensified entrenched in our daily lives entrenched in our daily lives are we cannot escape it; that we to participateforced in the system access to our basic for even and human rights such as food Capitalism is holding us all water. burning and the earth at hostage, the same time. What this definition 1 fundamentally misses is that capitalism is not just an economic social system as it is a system, This as a political system. well system does not only affect the but it economics of the country, also determines social hierarchies, political decisions and social the Additionally, interactions. concept is flawed. free market to multiple definitions, According is supposedly a the free market and sellers system where buyers decisions without are able to make influence or interferenceany apart from the influence of supply supposedly, It is, and demand. also characterised voluntary by But participation in the system. reality of those suffering the lived under capitalism is that it is by It is a system built no means free. on the historical dispossession of the black and exploitation as well women, class, working It is also as the environment. Capitalism is so not voluntary. by private or corporate private by by of capital goods, ownership that are determined investments prices, and by decision, private by and the distribution production, of goods that are determined competition in a free mainly by market.
ow do we exist as young as young exist do we ow fighting against activists, when inequality and poverty
calls on young people to act on the climate crisis, which is caused by which is caused crisis, people to act on the climate calls on young Courtney Morgan past and task of not only looking to the are faced with a daunting activists Young capitalism. change. but to also look to the future to address climate addressing persisting inequalities https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalism 1 According to the Merriam Webster Webster to the Merriam According capitalism is defined as dictionary, an economic system characterised WHAT IS CAPITALISM? WHAT
in democracy
Putting the demos back back demos the Putting
conditions are constantly changing, conditions are constantly changing, are facing a ticking time and we the This is the reality for bomb? Africans South majority of young for who are currently fighting up against but are coming equality, and this a system that is disarming; The target is crippling our activists. activists in 2019 young has shifted; are faced with the challenge of not it many, To a clear enemy. having are fighting against we seems like – one that can an invisible target image it shapeshift into whatever that is And on some level, wants. shifts and reinvents the target true: still the but at its core it’s itself, violent racist, same patriarchal, A system, system of capitalism. is able challenge, which with every to reproduce itself and reassign through Whether it’s its violence. spatially or the shifting of capital, there is a But in 2019, temporally. capital even challenge that maybe the climate be able to avoid, won’t crisis. H ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 20 frequency ofdroughts. because ofclimatechange,theregion isexperiencinganincreased rateofintensityand Africaisadrought-proneSouthern region, andduetorapidheatingshiftingecosystems SA Labour Bulletin 4 3 2 of capitalism. instalment crisis issimplythenext nobody cangetoutof. The climate plunging usintoadeepcrisisthat fossil fuelsand recklessly burning nations, was theGlobalNorth torebuildtheir freedom andtrying colonies were fighting for their by theentireplanet. While former climate crisis, itwas notcaused bythe entireplanetisaffected the not oftheirown creation. Although are suffering fromacrisisthatis nottoforget thattheyimportant themost.that areaffected It is the countriesofGlobalSouth and alsoonthegloballevel; itis happens bothonthesocietallevel continue tosuffer, themost. This the pooraresuffering, andwill inoursocieties;most vulnerable arefelteffects mostharshlyby the wild firesandcyclones. These such asdroughts, hurricanes, intensified extreme weather events sea-level rises, glaciermeltingand average increases, temperature Some examples onthis: global in anumberofdifferent ways. world, manifest anditseffects climatic conditionsallaroundthe atmosphere haschangedthe release oftoxic gasesintothe damage totheenvironment. The fossil fuels hascausedirreparable nature. of The prolongedburning continuing thelegacyofexploiting human-induced climate change and of fossil fuels, rapid, kick-starting beginning oftheexcess burning industrial revolution, we seethe industrial revolution. With the twice theglobalrate. climate changesevere. Theincrease intemperature experienced inSouthAfricaismore than South Africa’s anditsuniquegeographical position,makestheexperienceof political history
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2017-06-29-capitalism-and-apartheid-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/ https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/315344/new-report-shows-alarming-weather-changes-in-south-africa/ https://africacheck.org/reports/five-facts-femicide-in-south-africa/ Vol 43Number 2and3 3 Thishasaknock-oneffect onmanyotherconditionsintheregion. is morethantwicetheglobal experienced inSouth Africa The increaseintemperature of climatechangesevere. position, makes theexperience and itsuniquegeographical imminent threat. climate crisis, whichisposingan social ills, we arefacedwiththe seems bleak. Inadditiontothese people, especiallyyoung women, situation inSouth Africa, to many every threehours. world, withawoman beingkilled areamong thehighestin rates gender-based violenceandfemicide of is alsoexperiencing rates byactivism thestate. This country have seentheblatantrepressionof at MarikanatoFees MustFall, we degrees.varying From themassacre ofthecommunityin sectors by thegovernment, onvarious onthepeople the violenceenacted poverty. tonote Itisalsoimportant force, inequalityand rampant exploitation oftheblacklabour highlevelsis stillextremely of changed for thebetter. There conditions ofallpeoplehave tosay thatthematerial country ofthis to themostvulnerable apartheid, itwould beadisservice from thegripof been liberated As muchasSouth Africa has themost.majority ofthecountry apartheid, theblack affecting persisted is, exactlyasunder In 2019theinequalitythathas LIKE 25 YEARS INTODEMOCRACY? WHAT DOESSOUTH AFRICA LOOK South Africa’s politicalhistory 2 The current current The rate. generation ofactivists. generation the peopleandtobuildastrong calltoconscientise as arallying although scary, mustbeused crisis. situation,The current is atariskoffallingintodeeper ofviolence crime statsandrates withalreadyhigh being acountry cause socialunrest; South Africa change alsohasthepotentialto effects,geographical climate sea levels. Inaddition, toallthe ofrising susceptible totheeffects which makes itparticularly a significantamountofcoastline, island state, doeshave thecountry Although South Africa isnotan and thepoorwere vulnerable. left ofthedrought against theeffects were themselves abletoprotect the Western Cape, wheretherich by therecentdroughtin illustrated very precariousposition; thiswas class ofSouth Africa areina country, thepoorandworking With inequalityinthe rampant and frequencyofdroughts. ofintensity an increasedrate change, theregionisexperiencing ecosystems becauseofclimate heatingandshifting to rapid drought-prone region, anddue the region. Southern Africa isa on many otherconditionsin generations beforegenerations us. from order tobuildonandlearn wellto know this history in anditisimportant of activism South Africa hasarichhistory LESSONS LEARNT 3 This hasaknock-oneffect ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 21
December 2019/January 2020 In the post-apartheid era, it is notIn the post-apartheid era, Courtney Morgan is an ecofeminist climate-justice activist, particularly genderedinterested and in the racialised experiences of climate a BSc Honours holds She change. from Wits in Human Geography University. need to multiply. These issues of These issues need to multiply. inequality violence, gender-based issues change must be and climate be must they activists, not just for We struggle. person’s the everyday a society and a toward must work generation concerned where being society is of with the wellbeing social-justice not about being a it has to or being woke, warrior the climate Fighting be the norm. plastic straws is not about crisis, it’s and reusable grocery bags, conservationnot about shallow white by for models advocated it is about a environmentalists, anti-capitalist calculated, long, at all This agenda must, agenda. of the the voices centre times, the dispossessed marginalised, the Ultimately, and the silenced. victories any to achieve only way or any against the climate crisis, other crisis this country is facing, is to quite simply fight capitalism in all its forms. enough to replicate past strategies, be it is not enough to even members of those same liberation In the context of a movements. deeply and rapidly heating world are at a we entrenched inequality, need a strong, We turning point. nonpartisan generation of active It requires a break from citizens. it the normalised mode of activism, under requires one to stand alone, behind no podium, no banner, fist no regalia with your wearing on the streets, raised in the air, way The only for survival. fighting of capitalism’s to rid ourselves the people to us, is for exploitation, of the system. rid ourselves Young activists are faced Young 6 THE ROLE OF YOUNG ACTIVISTS young people and As young must act with urgency. we activists, Panel The Intergovernmental on Climate Change tells us we even maybe just 12 years, have climate to limit catastrophic less, change. with a daunting task: to not only to not with a daunting task: look to the past and address persisting inequalities but to also look to the future and address we do this, To climate change. our must be more than activists, the activism beyond must exist WhatsApp groups and week-long Communities on mobilisations. particularly mining- the ground, affected communities made up of poor black families are already For taking this fight seriously. have they decades now, many been confronting capitalism right As young on their doorsteps. must amplify the we activists, struggles already happening on the ones the ground and be led by It is the crises. most affected by people are that young not to say but the not already doing this, number of activists needed to avert and we these crises is massive, to it was not just a moral concern, just a moral not concern, it was to but it activistsduring that time, for Activists of survival. a matter was born this era out of managed the task of overthrowing unimaginable apartheid with limited bloodshed, peaceful and a (somewhat) However, transition of power. came along with this transition, some a number of compromises, are still suffering of which we as the issue of such from today, This period of racial land reform. not only left the oppression, country condition from in a critical injustices enacted upon the grave it also of the population, 90% over entrenched structural inequalities which still and deep suffering persist in 2019. This regime put 4 As the years went went As the years 5 sahistory.org.za/article/apartheid-and-reactions-it sahistory.org.za/article/apartheid-and-reactions-it https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48964736 5 6 It must also be recognised thatIt must also not of activismthis culture was nurtured it was by spontaneous, of strong activiststhousands over facing conditions decades, many imagine of us can’t even many also important It is not to today. South romanticise this history; bornAfrican activism was out of After decades of a dark history. colonialismsegregation through as the Land such and unjust laws dispossessed which 1913, of Act people ofthousands of black in 1948 when it was their land, even this segregation became more institutionalised when the National Party came into power, signalling the beginning of the apartheid regime. on, and the apartheid government on, continued to pass unjust laws, protests and campaigns arose in such as response to those laws, the Bantu Education Campaign a response to the Bantu which was This was of 1953. Act Education power in addition to the growing of the anti-apartheid liberation ultimately, While, movements. these protests strengthened the opposition to apartheid and successful in liberating the were not successful were they country, the system from in overthrowing born: which this regime was Apartheid an was capitalism. opposition and abhorrent regime, in force a number of acts whichin force aimed at suppressing the were Africa black population of South were these laws on all fronts, both spatially and far reaching, An integral turning temporally. point came close to the beginning with the of the administration, introductionthe Suppression of of which of 1950, Act Communism not only a symptom of global was also an attemptparanoia but was the apartheidby regime to silence in a rising liberation movement the country. ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 22 T (Cited in Dludla 2019:1.) (Cited inDludla 2019:1.) unemployment andinequality’. to risethechallengesofpoverty, intelligence andtechnology,artificial human insightsandengagement, thishistoricconfluenceof embrace Industrial Revolution, we must ofthe beneficial impacts Fourth know today aboutthepotential Ramaphosa said: ‘Given whatwe in Julythisyear, PresidentCyril Summit, heldinJohannesburg Revolution SADigitalEconomy Industrial Fourth the inaugural winners. Inpursuingthe4IR, during all classesandsocialgroupswillbe that, inthemediumandlongterm, hiccupswithanunderstanding term this ‘revolution’ andacceptshort- of the4IRthatwe mustembrace Appolis (2018)regardsasevangelists any struggle. We aretoldby what oppressed totheoppressorwithout and, Ihave tosay, todeliver the theproletariat aimed atdisarming SA Labour Bulletin of the South Africanproletariat Technological revolutionsandthedemands and production plans that willbenefittheworking and productionplansthat class. accesstolong-termtechnological allow theycanmakedemandsthat changes sothat understand engineering,and organisers that analyses, data and the 4IR technological class.proletariat/working For tradeunions, trainedresearchers thechallengeistohave components of the Second Technological Revolution and are of major benefit to the hasfailedtoprovidepublictransportandelectrification,dispensation whicharekey reflect therealityofSouth Africansociety. TheSouth duringthedemocratic Africanstate talkaboutthefuturetechnologicalchangesdoesnot Mondli Hlatshwayoarguesthat Revolution (4IR)are, in part, Industrial so-called Fourth debatesonthe he current Vol 43Number 2and3 South Africa iswillingorableto and thereare no indicationsthat technologies toSouth Africa, fromsellingtheir benefit This meansthatthesecountries that areprerequisitesfor the4IR. anddigitaltechnologies machinery for example, producetherobots, America, andChina, Germany the 1980s. The UnitedStatesof hasbeendecliningsince sector andhermanufacturing production machines, andtechnologiesfor South Africa doesnotproducethe THE SOUTH AFRICAN REALITY 16 April 2019, EngineeringNews). precision medicine(Campbell, distributed ledgertechnology, and of Things (IoT), blockchain, (AI), machinelearning, theInternet intelligence research onartificial andcoordinating conducting Revolution –aninstitutionfor Centre for Industrial theFourth African government launchedthe the 4IR, in April 2019, theSouth In anattempttocatchupwith major benefit totheproletariat.major benefit revolutions, andwhichwere of the firstandsecondtechnological which were key componentsof andelectrification, public transport is thatithasfailedtoprovide South state African democratic aboutthe most disturbingfactor 2018). (Francis machinery The it asaproducerofsophisticated industrialisation thatcouldposition ofmassive aprogramme undertake value, orthey mustsatisfyother that areproduced musthave ause and exchange value. The goods commodities, whichhave bothuse capitalist labourprocessproduces education oraccesstoresources. A underdevelopment, hunger, lackof societal problemslike poverty, or goodswiththeaimofsolving processes toproducecommodities of thenamehassetinmotion capitalism, nocapitalistworthy of Throughout thehistory CAPITALIST LABOURPROCESSES THE ROLEOF TECHNOLOGY IN ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 23 December 2019/January 2020 The situation regarding public The situation regarding public The first electric light recorded workplaces that were far away away far that were workplaces areas. from black residential of Despite the development road systems, electrified railway as part cars and buses, networks, of the Second of the advancement blacks Revolution, Technological adequate access to had never whites However, public transport. access to public transport enjoyed cars, private in the form of buses, trams in some instances. and even had signs, stations always Railway ‘whites which indicated spaces for evident and segregation was only’, stations and trains. in railway The transport is catastrophic. corruption at the Passenger Rail Agency of Africa South of and the subsequent delivery a [that] have ‘locomotives the roof height of 4.264mm while diesel the maximum height for not exceed may locomotives (Myburgh2015:1) 3.965mm’ a painful indication that was African corruption robs the South the most basic public of even technologies of the first and the second industrial revolutions. In the midst of his campaigning during the general elections this President Ramaphosa was year, embarrassingly four stuck for hours in a Metrorail train from Despite Pretoria to Johannesburg. the president later, all this, the state delivered surprisingly, of the nation address in which Africa to dream South he asked The proletarians of a bullet train. are then compelled to rely on Demands for minibus taxis. public transportsafe that utilise should be one of clean energy the responses to the debate and discussions of the 4IR. in September was Town in Cape a 1870 when Henry Edwards, Railways were used to transport were Railways The First and Second Industrial and Second Industrial The First strongly were Revolutions associated with changes in The first steam public transport. drove engine public locomotive Stockton and Darlington between An inter-city in 1825. Railway Liverpool line between railway opened and Manchester was Siemens von Werner in 1830. in Berlin presented the first electric train passenger in 1879. Technological After Second the electric and diesel Revolution, trains transporting the public became widespread in Europe America in the 1900s and What delayed (Marshall 1930). of road and the development railAfrica infrastructure in South the fact that the indigenous was populations had to be defeated and subjected to the long process the Europeans of subjugation by The Africa. living in South but only began in 1845, railway the electrification of railways and use of electric passenger trains began in the 1920s after the establishment of the Union of South Africa (South African Plant 1922). Railway from what was migrant workers regarded as the underdeveloped to the gold mines on reserves later and, Witwatersrand the World and after the Second on, black workers in particular, War between used trains to move FAILED TECHNOLOGICAL FAILED THE REVOLUTIONS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PROLETARIAT researchers and organisers who researchers and organisers understand production processes making sure that is a strategy for to long-termunions demand access productiontechnological and plans to help the that are most likely to the 4IR. unions to respond Technology is a tainted tool Technology needs of consumers. However, However, needs of consumers. commodities capitalists produce to sell them want because they of consumers in to a market In the order to realise profit. production, capitalist mode of the introduction of artificial notion of intelligence (and the profitthe 4IR) is about increasing capitalists – a point for margins those who that tends to escape assert that all sections of the global society stand to benefit from the 4IR and its utilisation of robotics. capitalists to advance used by In the process, their interests. labour tends to be weakened deskilling and through massive minority the enskilling of a tiny the intensification of workers, of the labour process and technological unemployment. restructuring and example, For of technology at the employment ArcelorMittal South what is now Africa has led to the loss of about 1989 and 50,000 jobs between trade unions’ today, Even 2015. strategy tend to be bargaining this means action: a rearguard the effects over bargain that they of technologies long after the been introduced. technologies have strategy bargaining A proactive requires that unions and workers understand that consistent research and education on technology is required in each department of sure in order to make a plant, are that technology and wages part struggles of their bargaining Building a union’s and demands. capacity to conduct research on technologies in specific the to advance workplaces, workers, interests of shop-floor to formulate proactive is a way responses to technological Staffing unions changes. data analysts, with engineers, The balance sheet of technological revolutions since the advent of the First Industrial Industrial the First of the advent since revolutions of technological sheet balance The need to their organisations and African proletarians the South indicates that Revolution concerned. are as far as technologies and demands their own issues define ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 24 SA Labour Bulletin inovasyon.org/pdf/WorldEconomicForum_The.Fourth.Industrial.Rev.2016.pdf on 15 May 2019. Schwab, K. (2015). IndustrialRevolution:“The Fourth whatit means, how torespond.” Foreign Affairs. 12December. Accessed at: http://www. blunder-20150704 on(accessed17November 2019) Myburgh, P., (2015). “SA’s blunder.” R600-milliontrain News24. 5July2019. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/SAs-R600-million-train- Marshall, C.F. oftheLiverpool 1930. History &ManchesterRailway Centenary (1sted.). National Archives, Kew: Locomotive PublishingCompany. co.za/business-report/economy/datamustfall-sa-data-more-expensive-than-in-rival-and-neighboring-economies-19660907 (accessed on17November 2019) Karombo, T. 2019. “#Datamustfall: SAdatamoreexpensive thaninrival andneighboringeconomies”, IndependentOnline, 6March2019, https://www.iol. roboticsandautomationnews.com/2018/01/03/30-industrial-robot-manufacturers-to-watch-in-2018/15542/ (accessedon17November 2019) Francis, S., (2018). towatch.“30 industrialrobotmanufacturers Robotics andautomationnews”. Automation News. 3January. Accessed at: http:// (accessedon17Novemberembrace-4ir-28728430 2019) Dludla, S. 2019. “Cyril Ramaphosawants 4IR” SAtoembrace Politics, 5July2019, https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/cyril-ramaphosa-wants-sa-to- (accessedon17Novemberengineeringnews.co.za/article/budget2-2019-10-30/rep_id:4136 2019) Creamer, T. 2019. “Treasury keeps Eskom debt-reliefpowder asitawaits dry unbundlingprogress” EngineeringNews, 2019, 30October http://www. Appolis, J. 2018. The 4.0IndustrialRevolution and Workers. UnpublishedPaper. ANC. 2019. Manifesto:“2019 Election A People’s Manifesto Planfor aBetterLife for All”. ANC. Johannesburg. References: has risenbeyond R450billion and education. Eskom’s debt entire budgetfor healthcare much biggerthanSouth Africa’s Eskom’s debtburdenisnow Africa, isinavery deepcrisis. inSouth supplier ofelectricity electricity. Eskom, themajor to enjoy aconsistentsupplyof employed andtheunemployed impossible for many ofthe makesof electricity italmost the astronomicallyhighprice about some ‘free’ electricity, is used), anddespitethenoise 40% (iftheexpanded definition the unemployment iscloseto rate unreliable. where Inthecontext areasandtownships is in rural tohouseholds supply ofelectricity thatthe toldisthefact not often 8–9). However, thatis thestory homes electrified.’ (ANC2019: areas,those inrural have their of 10South Africans, including access toelectricity. Today, 8out communitieshad people inrural of thepopulationandonly12% ANC confirms: ‘In1994, only36% areas.especially intherural The very low levels ofelectrification, be racialised, withblackshaving country, was accesstoelectricity to 1883. after took off Inthewhole inCapeand electrification Town lighting. However, seriouslighting showman, arc demonstrated Vol 43Number 2and3 communication. these communitiesofaccessto network coverage, depriving areastend tohaveRural poor the Third IndustrialRevolution. to consistentlyenjoy of thefruits made itdifficult for proletarians Third Technological Revolution has and accesstothetoolsof of thestatetoprovide free WiFi Nigeria respectively.’ The failure US$2.22 per1GBinEgyptand charges ofUS$1.49and internet to averageis incontrast mobile or 7.19inUSDollarterms. This Africa standsatR101.91perGB formobile datatariff South study by Cablesays theaverage (2019:1): a ‘Data releasedafter individuals. According toKarombo proletarian communitiesand remains ahugeproblemfor to dataandtelecommunications Revolution ofaccess intheform Creamer 2019). education combined(Villiers 2018; ofhealthand departments than thebudgetsofnational of March2019, anditismore during theperiodsinceend that theSouth African proletarians First IndustrialRevolution indicate revolutions sincetheadvent ofthe The balancesheetoftechnological CONCLUSION Access to the ThirdTechnologicalto Access terrain. asacontestedand production thatviews technologystrategy unions willhave toadopta the key responsestothe4IR, came before the4IR. As oneof technological revolutions that data, whichareallresultsof andpublic transport, electricity to demandaccesshigh-quality debateisresponses tothecurrent screaming. Oneofthekey slaughterhouse withoutkickingor sending theproletarianstoa as having anagendaaimedat their parties, mustbeunmasked by bourgeois and intellectuals debatesaboutthe4IRledCurrent reproduce asthecapitalistsystem. the technologicalrevolutions sure thattechnologiesfromall process,production istomake technologies inthecapitalist has shown, theroleof are concerned. First, asthisarticle demands asfartechnologies define their own issuesand and theirorganisations needto to production technologies.to production focused ontradeunionresponses which he completedin2012, Johannesburg. Hisdoctoralstudies, Transformation of at the University for EducationRightsand researcher inthe Centre Mondli Hlatshwayo isasenior
ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 25 December 2019/January 2020 It is very difficult to say with with difficultIt is very to say Africa is dominated by techno- Africa is dominated by technological optimists who view such as artificial developments automation and intelligence, biotechnology as a advanced economic and social positive force. certaintyany what impact 4IR on South technologies will have persistently high rates Africa’s and poverty of unemploment, It cannot be taken inequality. granted that the impactfor will or lead to increased be positive The ‘decent jobs’. producitivity or be further consequence might well job losses and a widening gulf nots. and have the haves between that There is already evidence digital technologies are destroying jobs in the service industries (i.e. and finance retail, call centres), In March 2019 administration. Standard Bank announced that close 91 branches and it would cut around 1,200 jobs as part of efforts to digitise its banking products and services. 4IR has become a metaphor 4IR has become a metaphor and plans that will position SA as and plans that will position SA as within player a global competitive The space’. the digital revolution president presents 4IR as offering to turn Africa a pathway South economy sluggish Africa’s South around and create jobs rather The president them. than destroy has claimed that 4IR technologies will within a decade contribute R5 trillion in social and economic million jobs. and four value a future of prosperity for This is not and job creation. The doing. only Ramaphosa’s embrace positive government’s of the 4IR echoes the rhetoric and executive of the founder Economic World chairman of the Klaus Schwab, (WEF), Forum ‘Fourth who coined the term The forum’s Industrial Revolution’. appropriation of the concept has been described as one of the and ‘most successful lobbying policy influence instruments of The 2019). (Gillwald, our time’ current 4IR debate in South
outh Africa has been swept Africa has been swept outh up in the global hype ‘Fourth Industrial around the
asks why the focus on technological innovation in South Africa is Africa innovationtechnological on focus the why asks Dawson J. Hannah South in not opening up new conversations about decentring wage labour as the primary means such as a universal expanding forms of social protection, of accessing a livelihood and basic income (UBI). 4IR AND TECHNO-OPTIMISM 4IR has become the mantra policy initiative new of every event. and official government President Cyril Ramaphosa set up a presidential has even Ramaphosa commission on 4IR. in the 2019 state of explained the nation address that the 4IR ‘identify and commission would strategies recommend policies,
Revolution gets wrong about jobs wrong and prosperity gets Revolution of techno-optimism hype What the Fourth Industrial around the The danger danger The
Revolution’ (4IR). Much of this (4IR). Revolution’ that assuming is optimistic, hype technology will bring jobs new making our current and prosperity, better. even economic system work And wrong? But what if they’re assuming that business are we why should continue as usual with this – rather than taking ‘revolution’ the opportunity the 4IR presents economic to challenge the way are distributed and help rewards build the political will needed to inequality? address ever-widening S ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 26 SA Labour Bulletin thatviews paradigm productivist might beginto challengethe advancement andautomation increased talkoftechnological While onemightassumethe implications for socialpolicy. South Africa thushasimportant the4IRdebatein that surrounds techno-optimism protection. The unconditional, universal social to reorientsocialpolicytowards as apolicygoalandanopportunity of stable, employment formal-sector posing achallengetothecentrality change andautomationasboth labour markets views technological who arenolongerneededby existence of ‘surplus populations’ A wealth ofnew writingonthe PRODUCTIVIST VISION? 4IR:CHALLENGE TOTHE A reorient socialpolicy towards unconditional,universalsocialprotection. to the centrality of stable, formal-sector employment as a policy goal and an opportunity to by labourmarketsviewstechnologicalchangeandautomationasbothposingachallenge A wealthofnewwritingontheexistence‘surpluspopulations’whoare nolongerneeded search for cheaplabourelsewhere. both automatesandcontinuesits deindustrialisation asmanufacturing in thewake ofjobless growth and South Africa isalreadystruggling by that thefact is contradicted thandestroywill createrather jobs The ideathatdigitaltechnologies Africans whoareunemployed. little hopefor theten-millionSouth technological improvements hold in miningorconstruction, butthese and make otherssafer, for example, might well createsomenew jobs the 4IR. Technological developments calls intoquestiontheoptimismof unemployment inSouth rate Africa today. The persistentlyhigh then, itisincreasinglyaccurate displacement oflabourwas wrong oftechnological prediction unemployment’. the While coined theterm ‘technological John Maynard Keynes famously In the1930seconomist technology onjobsarenotnew. Fears about the impact of Fears of abouttheimpact Vol 43Number 2and3 wage labour(Barchiesi 2007a). should begaining incomethrough about givinghandoutstothose who toideological concerns large part unions andcivilsociety, due in fromlabour widespread support in South Africa was despite rejected for asmalluniversal basicincome long history. Indeed, theproposal overconcerns dependencyhave a mechanism (Barchiesi2007b)and anddevelopment distributory on wage employment asthekey fixation’Africa’s South ‘normative discourse.political andcultural andreformist inbothradical central South Africa, wage labourremains includingUBI.social protection In argument for expanded of forms the automation arestrengthening technological innovation and 2000s. oftheworld, Inotherparts intheearly basic incomegrant implementing asmalluniversal and even seriouslyconsidered extensive programme social-grant South Africa alreadyhasan is especiallynoteworthy because universal basicincome(UBI)? This of socialprotection, suchasa livelihood andexpanding forms meansofaccessinga the primary about decentringwage labouras opening upnew conversations technological innovation not is: why? Why isthefocus on ‘distributionist’ policyframework. froma shift ‘productivist’ towards a expansion anda ofsocialprotection tothe contrary The visionruns andsurgingrate inequalities. persistently highunemployment as thesolutiontoSouth Africa’s economic growth andjobcreation spiritof4IRpreaches neoliberal witnessingtheopposite.fact The of accessingresources, we arein means wage labourastheprimary The questionwe needtoask income through labour. cannot reliably accesssufficient minimum livelihood tothosewho a such asaUBIthatguarantees policies,include redistributory and ongoing4IR. This would responsetothe present a necessary expanded ofredistributionas forms begin toenvisagemoreradically spread, itisimperative for usto 4IR arelikely tobesounevenly Africa, wherethegainsof inequality. like South Inacountry unemployment, poverty and distribution asthesolutionto thanresource job creationrather visionthatviews a productivity debates remainfirmly welded to more fantasythanfact. The 4IR distribution Ferguson talksabout woes makes thenew politicsof Africa’s socialandeconomic creation asthesolutiontoSouth political discoursetowards job wealth’ (2015: 205). arguments for thesocialoriginsof of share’,‘rightful rootedin often payments asakind arewarranted new thinkingsuggestingthatsuch what heseesas ‘an explosion of 205). Ferguson’s optimismrestson through thebackdoor’ (2015: ‘result ofuniversal incomesupport entitlement’ andwillthusachieve the of universalistic, citizenship-based will creep toward‘gradually akind that theSouth system African grant universal basicincome, heargues state explicitly theideaof rejected carers, andthattheSouth African child- bodied whoarenotprimary pointedly unavailable totheable- acknowledging arestill thatgrants new politicsofdistribution. While thebeginningofa system herald socialgrant policies andcurrent that South Africa’s redistributory The defaulting of policy and The defaultingofpolicyand James Ferguson (2015)argues ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 27 December 2019/January 2020 physical, digital and biological physical, Juxtaposing these worlds’. Geldenhuys asks: announcements, earth-shattering revolutions ‘Two of each other within 5 years without the subsequent positive “Really?”’ impact on the economy? yet Simple, 2019). (Geldenhuys, especially in questions, profound which ‘revolution’, the context of a in Marxist/socialist terms is a term that has been misappropriated. , in a recent , 1 Hameda Deedat argues that of despite the characteristics the understanding of its impact the 4IR being widely defined, see the 4IR wave we Instead, and its pace is unknown. without us as a country giving guidancesweep over us, seen asThe 4IR can be or even determining the course. restructuring and labour a euphemism for labour-market the way 4IR is thought of. needs to influence and change Rasigan Maharajah’s presentation to NALEDI BRICS seminar April 2018; Professor Extraordinary: Professor April 2018; presentation to NALEDI BRICS seminar Rasigan Maharajah’s Node RSA. Stellenbosch University, Technology, Science and on Evaluation, Research Centre for Centre of Foundation and National Research Technology DepartmentHead: of Science and RSA. Policy, and Innovation Technology and Science, in Scientometrics Excellence Moneyweb, October 2019, Pieter Geldenhuys the director of the Institute for Technology Strategy Technology Pieter Geldenhuys the director of the Institute for October 2019, Moneyweb, and guest lecturer at the London Business School. and Innovation INTRODUCTION Geldenhuys Can labour still influence the influence Can labour still agenda? A perspective The Fourth Industrial Industrial Fourth The ‘fait a Revolution a euphemism as accompli’ for restructuring? 2 1 Moneyweb article, points out article, Moneyweb in 2011, Rifkin, that Jeremy of the announced the emergence as Third Industrial Revolution communication technologies new energy with new converged years later, Less than five regimes. announced the Klaus Schwab ‘as Fourth Industrial Revolution: technologies startnew fusing the References: African Debates ‘South (2007a) F. Barchiesi, Labour and Wage on the Basic Income Grant: Journal of Social Policy’, the Post-Apartheid 561–75. African Studies 33(3): Southern Labor and Social ‘Wage (2007b) F. Barchiesi, Citizenship in the Making of Post-Apartheid Journal of Asian South Africa’, and African 39–72. Studies 42(1): a Man a Fish: (2015) Give J. Ferguson, Politics of on the New Reflections Duke Durham and London: Distribution. Press. University Africa is caught ‘South (2019), A. Gillwald, of the fourthin the global hype industrial August 26 Mail and Guardian, revolution’, https://mg.co.za/article/2019-08-26- 2019, south-africa-is-caught-in-the-global-hype-of- the-fourth-industrial-revolution Hannah J. Dawson is a Hannah J. Society at the postdoctoral fellow Institute Politics and Work University. Wits (SWOP), I would like to thank Leonie I would like to thank Hoffman and Liz Fouksman been have discussions that for own thinking central to my future of labour and on the more forms of social expansive protection. Acknowledgements: CONCLUSION of the optimism In questioning I Africa, in South the 4IR vision that we am not suggesting effortsabandon harness to for technological developments and job economic growth My point is creation altogether. ratherdebate to to open up the the 4IR enable us to ask why certain visions of evokes and society and the economy why example, For not others. 4IR not led has the talk of the and to greater public debate around redistribution advocacy or a UBI? It is time the on 4IR turned to conversation both its effect on inequality, and its potential to help create or shape the political will needed to address the the widening gap between nots. and have haves ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 28 SA Labour Bulletin of thetechnological changes. He focuses onthedisruptive elements technological changesthe4IR p1). Headds thatunlike other and researchinstitutions’ (2019, institutions, the private sector government, highereducation processes withinparliament, the policy- andstrategy-development processes whichincludestructured and sometimesinterlinked 4IR through ‘multiple, parallel institutions arerespondingtothe claims thatSouth African intelligence (robotics). platforms, digitisationandartificial technologies –appsand of the Internet Things, information aredescribedas characteristics this so-called4IR, thekey and arestillcontinuing. For changes have beenoccurring technological advancements and and development overtime. andcyclespatterns ofinnovation whatisundisputedly demonstrate and proponentsofthe4IRalike to displayed usedby opponents chart waves’. Above isacommonly and namedthecycles ‘Kondratieff in 1929, whobuiltonthisthesis was expanded onby Schumpeter major economiccycles. Histhesis whose bookin1925describedthe others, reference Kondratieff, Geldenhuys like Maharajah In responsetothe4IR, Gastrow Global innovation and Vol 43Number 2and3 2 and a lotofunpacking. is exceptionally vast and it requires digitisation androbotics. This topic retrenchments inthenameof and thebanksenmassepending the least, hasseenjoblosses, sectors,manufacturing tosay printing, communicationsand finance, aviation, transport, approach inthemining, security, the course. The faitaccompli guidance oreven determining giving without usasacountry see the4IRwave sweep over us, its paceisunknown. Insteadwe and understanding ofitsimpact being widelydefined, the ofthe4IR the characteristics above sourcesisthat despite that areexpected.disruptions accompanying technological describestheimpact His article tipping pointsandmegatrends). Valley (withexponential interests, with thelanguageofSilicon of ‘future studies’, whichisinfused draws significantlyonthelanguage adds thatthe4IRapproachalso interested inany means thatcan areonly the modusoperandi Shareholders whodetermine itself for aglobalrecession. consolidates andprepares worse timefor labourascapital The 4IRcannotcomeata LABOUR MUSTRESPOND! What isevident fromthe will lead to greater efficacy and will leadtogreater efficacy and thetechnology orinnovation Either way, they canbereplaced and inotherinstancesby robots. workers will bereplacedby apps increases. In someinstances, large-scale strikes andwage with absenteeism, insubordination, employers would nothave todeal become athingofthepastas resource-related problemswill Some have addedthathuman remain relative orcompetitive. the financialboostitneedsto substantially, thusgivingbusiness reduce human-resourcecostsquite asitwill 4IR shouldbeembraced African businessfraternity, the some employers intheSouth worker interests. According to aboveshareholders andreturns for making decisionsthatplace themselves ofany responsibility for retrenchments anddevoid constantly useitasthekey reason a euphemismasemployers prerequisites, the4IRhasbecome of 4IRthatcouldwork for us. advantage ofthevarious features oftaking deny ustheopportunity not onlybefoolhardy butwill asifweoperate areChina will thatexpects usto a trajectory are way behindandtodetermine their nichemarkets; inreality, we comparative advantage aswell as have identified theircuttingedge/ the USandseveral othercountries as awhole. Brazil, Russia, India, would bebeneficial for thenation any ofthekey features ofthe4IR motivators astowhy introducing to definethe4IRandestablish landscape.South African Weneed the an energy crisischaracterise and economicinstabilities, and union membershipandpolitical weak labour movement, low economy,shrinking formal a economy inresponsetoa the expansion oftheinformal outsourcing, and informalisation conditions, downward variation, Precarity ofwork andworking increase sharesandprofitability. In theabsenceof ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 29 December 2019/January 2020 , while while , 3 The current skills and human Southern example, For Another factor that the 4IR advancements in robotics and in robotics and advancements artificial intelligence facilitate the displacement and replacement of together and plot out a meaningful out a meaningful together and plot trajectory our country. for do not speak resources available to the trajectory model or growth envisioned. Textile African Clothing and has Union (SACTWU) Workers incorporated 3D design into its at how factorieshas looked and it technologies in the clothing sector can replace the mundane and while workers monotonous jobs, who held those positions can be reskilled and either manage the technologies or be redeployed to other positions along the for In hospitals, production line. that technologies exist example, could completely transform the the taking over health sector by task that nurses are administrative ‘electronic such as burdened with, a which provides charting’, helpful and less time-consuming to the tedious filling alternative of charts and paper to with pen filling out a simple online chart. releasing them to see to Thereby on what they patients and focus The are trained and skilled for. be to increase potential would service in public hospitals, delivery and a force a much happier work substantial reduction in the time and mainly the older and the poor, spend in and children, women public hospitals. seems to be completely oblivious (survival)to is the existential according to a study by question: Garnulo et al. number of people who lose their who lose their number of people being paying jobs and then stop in their customers or clients sector of the downstream own workers example, for So, economy. in the banking sector whose jobs will without are being threatened no longer need a source of income and account, more than one bank all switch to a bank that may they workers Many did not retrench. unit trusts, funeral policies, have and pension retirement annuities, medical aid some with funds, All of these or hospital plans. related industries will not only but will be be making payouts many Furthermore, losing clients. accounts in have of these workers so the retail stores the retail stores, will incur debt as retrenched struggle to prioritise workers just do not have eventually, and, to settle accounts. the money require transport to and Workers or public and private from work, without them in the labour market as taxis, the fuel sector as well buses and trains will be negatively At the household level, affected. this can also be delineated with impact based on the the negative number of dependants on the these add to the woes, To salary. will become dependent workers on social security and will largely be users of public services like and rather hospitals and clinics; than stimulating the economy, will become partthey of the As a result increasing unemployed. they buying power, of not having will no longer participate in the in the The workers labour market. finance sector are the epitome of what will transpire if government, business and labour do not come Labour needs to take advantage advantage Labour needs to take application of the The blanket Granulo et al, Psychological reactions to human versus robotic job replacement- LETTERS-https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0670-y Human Nature. robotic job replacement- LETTERS-https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0670-y reactions to human versus Psychological Granulo et al, 3 of its position as an alliance of its position as an alliance partner and refuse to accept the The 4IR, 4IR as a fait accompli. depending on the paradigm and can allow are, who the drivers the disruption positive. to be very the 4IR can lead to example, For the restructuring sector of a in a and control own that workers way In this the means of production. the robots and automated instance, machines or e-stores with the chain stream can associated value and their workers by over be taken unions. cognisance of to take 4IR forgets the fact that despite the supposed African by South benefits identified the short-sightedness businesses, is the this view accompanying efficiency. The banking fraternity The efficiency. competition has that their argued faceless to digitisation and moved and if they banking through apps, have they are to be competitive As a with the trends. to move human beings are no longer result, required to perform functions can perform. that apps and robots The end result will increase the in South number of unemployed Africa in this context of jobless and less than 1% growth. growth Should can this be allowed? How it incumbent not make government on all companies who decide to rather contribute to unemployment to be taxed; than employment a policy that not have should we sets out a just transition trajectory the employer that delineates how or sector conducts change, a develops conducts research, range of scenarios and redeploys, performs reskilling and is taxed. Precarity of work and working conditions, downward variation, outsourcing, informalisation informalisation outsourcing, variation, conditions, downward and working of work Precarity a economy, formal shrinking a to response in economy informal the of expansion the and and instabilities, political and economic and low union membership movement, weak labour African landscape. the South crisis characterise an energy ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 30 SA Labour Bulletin this isthepoint. unemployed).’ Ifnothingelse forprogrammes the appropriately tailoringsupport policy measures(for example, should betaken intoaccount by psychological consequencesthat human labourhasunique technological replacementof the findingssuggest ‘that research tobedoneinthisarea, asacatalystforacting more not conclusive anddefinitely to one’s economicfuture. While self-threat andperceived threat was associated withreduced as opposedtoahumanbeings the machine, robotsorsoftware found that thepreference for but whenqualified, theresearch This finding was quiteironic, replaced by amachineorrobot. lost they preferred tobe came totheirown jobsbeing than robots; however, whenit other humanworkers, rather workers tobereplacedwith showed thatpeoplepreferred replacement’.findings The psychology oftechnological this gapandexamined ‘the researchtoaddress undertook the uptake. etal. Garnulo human labourhasbeenslow on technological replacementof tothe people react the 4IRthatexamines how of 4IR researchontheimpact occupations. The paceofthe end goalistotake over the with taskreplacement, butthe some instances, itwillbegin ofoccupations.wide range In through joblossesacrossa ofthesenew technologies brunt and theirfamilieswillbearthe stemmed, millionsofworkers forecasts that, predict ifnot is goodfor business, research machines andalgorithmswhich people andworkers by (NALEDI). Economic Development Institute National Labourand director Hameda Deedat:executive Vol 43Number 2and3
P needs ofhuman life andeven theirhealth.after These basic family demands, andlooking own children, attendingtoother their andlookingafter raising likedo othersocialactivities line, workers arereleasedto of robotsontheproduction approaches. With theadvent that dependsonneoliberal digitisation; andgovernance advances leadingtoward the economy; technological on: laissez-faireapproach to development thatdepends based innovation; sustainable excessive focus onmarket- conservative-dominant agenda: Forum anditrepresentsthe inventions ofthe World Economic talk ofthe4IRisone Revolution.Industrial The plight of the workingclass Revolution and the continued The Fourth Industrial effect onthe4IR, and5)theeffectsonwomen. losses, 4)manufacturingcontributiontoGDPasanegative leadtomassivejob 3) the4IRdeskillingprocessesthat levelsofhuman-resourcedevelopmentinourcountry,low working class isnotwellrepresented), 2)thehistorically problems are: 1) 4IR’s inherent deficiency’ ‘democratic (the needtobeaddressed.problems withthe4IRthat These Bhabhali KaMaphikelaNhlapomakesnoteoffivekey with everything Fourth isnowliterature littered olitical, socialandacademic precision. on timeandwith higherlevels of therefore, deliver theproducts and,tend tospeedupproduction intelligence.artificial They also levels ofhumanthinkingcalled walk, andeven run possessthe present timearealsoableto and retrenchment. Those ofthe the dangerofwork alienation workers standingalongside dangerous manualtasksfor reprieve fromtoughand both technologicaladvancement retrenchment. alienation, deskillingandlater linethrough,the production get removed from permanently who areopposedtocapitalists on theirwork. Workers, however, completely refreshedandfocused theycome backtoproduction are so thatby thetimeworkers human development arecritical, Robots, therefore, represent
ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 31 December 2019/January 2020 MANUFACTURING CONTRIBUTION MANUFACTURING EFFECT ON A NEGATIVE AS TO GDP THE 4IR 4. 4. Ha-Joon Chang has it that in our country’s the early 1960s, contribution manufacturing sector’s to the gross domestic product easily comparable with(GDP) was major trading partners Japan like declined however, This, and Korea. drastically from the 1970s because and neoliberal of unfavourable Currently economic policies. manufacturing percentage to GDP need a 13% and we is below 28%–32% contribution to be a 4IR winner. including the loss of life – like the – like life including the loss of FlightAirlines recent Ethiopian 302 that crashed just after take-off, The aboard. killing all 157 people has beenother notable catastrophe of suicide amongthe high incidents Apple factoryChinese workers. result in can Alienation from work than just human costs more massive catastrophic costthe already-known it can be Thus, of retrenchment. that the economic costs areargued causes, with long social also linked adherents of the 4IRwhich many example, For are not looking at. from away more people are moving face-to-face interaction (fuelled by this has long and media), ‘social’ might have social costs as we According anti-social behaviour. and Buhlungu, to Hlatshwayo a large Africa, ArcelorMittal South shed 50,000 Africa, steel producer in 1989 and 2015 due to jobs between the introduction technology. of new The effects on the surrounding Triangle Vaal communities of the There livelihoods. devastated have are estimations of further job losses African with 4.5-million South being of jobs facing the likelihood automated. THE 4IR DESKILLING PROCESSES TO MASSIVE JOB LEAD THAT LOSSES Contrary of to the University 3. 3. leads technology of any The advent to the further alienation of workers through a process of deskilling. jobThis then results in many as the currentworkforce losses, is faced with technologies that cannot operatethey and if they of requires only a few are able to, on the production them (workers) it is estimated the 4IR, With line. that jobs will only be created data in highly skilled areas like what However, analysis and design. are the4IR has not budgeted for financial and social costs massive that are needed to compensate the retrenched and their families, adherence to the agreed schooladherence to the agreed norms that most and standards rural fail to schools and township of the rural Many and implement. blacks catering for schools township or no facilities poor in general have and learning. teaching effective for high dropoutThis then results in completion rates. or poor levels also has aThe facilities problem effect on the achievement negative of good results in the science, technology and mathematics. of proclamations Johannesburg’s ‘leading 4IR institution to being the there is no future challenges’ solve sufficientevidence that the post- school-education and training sector in collaboration Africa, in South the has developed with industry, thetraining capacity to provide If that the 4IR. skills demanded by have not would then we so, were heard the daily gripes of the various industries of the lack of coherence industry and academia inbetween and skills productionthe knowledge processes. 4IR’S INHERENT ‘DEMOCRATIC ‘DEMOCRATIC 4IR’S INHERENT DEFICIENCY’ THE HISTORICALLY LOW LEVELS OF THE HISTORICALLY HUMAN-RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COUNTRY If we look back at the previous look back at the If we in this issue Mondli Hlatshwayo three industrial revolutions, we we three industrial revolutions, were respectively: find that they of steam engines, the invention and computerisation; electricity, digital andwhile this one is about This is the artificial knowledge. robotics, data: combination of large artificial and computers. intelligence that the over-elaboration argues that our countryof the 4IR forgets He further argues is a 4IR loser. need we the 4IR to thrive, that for to look back and start addressing the problems of the three previous industrial revolutions. problems with the I note five Below 4IR: The South African education and The South training sphere lags behind our The conservative trading partners. in our countryviews normally want comparing this point by to evade Africa to the rest of the South Further which is not fair. continent, rural and genderto that the racial, spread of human-resources training skills has the apartheid construct. in While the enrolment levels basic and higher education have it is the drastically increased, 2. 2. 1. 1. we need to note The first thing is that all 4IR structures be they presidential or Department of Training Higher Education and are not they ministerial, (DHET), The most properly represented. are those of labour missing voices is not byThis and communities. companies seek as many accident, to use these structures to advance their products. Contrary to the University of Johannesburg’s proclamations of being the ‘leading 4IR the ‘leading being of proclamations Contrary Johannesburg’s of University to the the post-school- evidence that is no sufficient there challenges’ to solve future institution developed has industry, with Africa, in collaboration sector in South and training education 4IR. by the the skills demanded provide capacity to the training ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS 32 1. to thefollowing: These includeandarenotlimited required toplay inthe4IRgame. then considerallthebasicsteps provisions,than certain and to lookatthebroadersociety effort There hastobeaconcerted of thefirstthreerevolutions. need togobackthedemands from 4IR tobenefit wecountry SA Labour Bulletin 1 poverty. What istobedone? levels ofunemployment and population categorieshave huge a large youth population. These ismostlywomen,country with associated withthe4IR. Our technological areasandadvances fromthethey willnotbenefit agriculture andunpaidjobs, Since mostwomen areinservices, ON WOMEN 5.EFFECTS THE radiologist; fastercarmanufacturingbyrobots whichare more precise thanassemblyworks. medical diagnosisthrough artificialintelligencebasedx-raysmore fasterandbetterthana According toProf. KlausSchwabtheadvantagesof4IRincludes,amongstothers,quicker losers. tooneoftheworstcountry 4IR will emerge, relegatesour strictly the technologicalinnovations development comesfromand where themostresearchand thesectoris becauseneglecting to even utterthewords 4IR. This manufacturing, we don’tqualify growth’. So, unlesswe accelerate an inherentlyfasterproductivity to agricultureandservices, ithas processing andthus, asopposed to mechanisationandchemical lendsitselfeasily‘manufacturing
Arguments madeby Hlatshwayo canbefound inthisvolume oftheSALB. See Technological revolutions andthedemandsof South African proletariat.
Hlatshwayo Ha-Joon Changargues that not decent, and insecurejob confused withtheshort-term, creation. This isnottobe forprogrammes massive job of manufacturing-based new technology. The rollout in oflocallymanufactured through theslow phasing and massive retrenchments, An endtothecontinued Vol 43Number 2and3 1 argues thatfor our 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
streets andpickinglitter. public works like cleaning nonsenseofthe opportunities planning process. and nottheusual, short-term centred withanin-depth, redistributive andhuman that isstimulusbased, a new approachtoplanning Development Plan(NDP)and plans even like theNational unfriendly macroeconomic andecology- manufacturing austerity-based, non- of thetrickle-down growth, A realisationofthefailures engagement. development, and integration andeaseofhuman connection which arethecatalystfor systems and publictransport public railway, roadnetwork The massive provision of township settlements. and especially oftherural The massive electrification township settlements. anddata provision torural The bulkfreeorcheap beneficiation processes. implementation ofthemining re-industrialisation. The andmassivemanufacturing The massive of upgrades for andcapitalistgreed. profits public goodnotacommodity asaeducation andtraining training. The viewing of spending oneducationand The increasesinpublic cell phones, etc. security, cheap cars, notepads, andfootwear,textiles food household goods, clothing, focused onbasicneedslike New technological plans health andenvironment. social demandslike housing, A morefocused approachto exponential. inequality willremain andincreasedexpectancy rates risks ofviolence, low life- situationswherein thevulnerable the restofpopulationin beneficial totheelite few, leaving advances willalsobemore and even workers. farm The 4IR assembly plantworkers, drivers disposing ofjobslike radiologists, disappointing atthepointof food security. However, alltheseget thatcouldsolve also verticalfarms hotspots.all thetraffic Thereare foresights,traffic thereby avoiding flowschange traffic andwill have models, autonomouscarsthatcan business that changemanufacturing There arealso3D-printingmachines and carbon-cleantechnologies. processes for renewable energies workers. Itcanalsoenhancemining more precisethanassembly bymanufacturing robots, whichare better thanaradiologist; fastercar intelligence-based x-rays fasterand diagnosis throughartificial- amongst others, quicker medical the advantages ofthe4IRincludes, According toProf. KlausSchwab, the futureofhumanityisatstake. the 4IRisworking-class oriented As Monyatso Mahlatsiputsit, unless 11. 10. Trade Unions(COSATU). at the Congress ofSouthAfrican the HeadofEducationandTraining Bhabhali Nhlapois KaMaphikela markets. owners andtheircollapsing revolution againsttheprivate ofcoordinated programmes Concerted, massive andwell- workers andcommunities. a collective ownership of for with socialproduction factories unused andneglected The takeover ofthemany
IN THE PAST 33 December 2019/January 2020 But sometimes, such familiar But sometimes, The events of 1976, when young when young of 1976, The events learners marched and sang and police, violently repelled by were are ingrained in the national are so intimately They memory. connectedour understanding with people of the role that young in politics that they can play are commemorated year every 1976 became the Day. Youth on activists generation of youth been against which all others have measured. and told known, stories are so well neglect historical that we so often, In this case, details in the telling. it is important to recall what prompted the students of 1976 to manyThough themselves. organise have including myself, scholars, people that these young argued by a number influenced were political groups andof different actors – from Black Consciousness student activists to members of the African National Congress (ANC) first were – they underground and primarily united against the Afrikaans in their imposition of This is an argument classrooms. 1976 1976 has become shorthand to political activism speak of youth of It refers, Africa. in South to the June 16 march course, streets led by through Soweto’s secondary school students who protesting the imposition were Afrikaans as a language of of instruction in their classrooms. beyond elections. Considering elections. beyond political people’s young participation in recent history is turnout Though youth helpful here. historically in this electionwas this does not indicate a lack low, of political interest among young with the rise of Indeed, people. the over student movements new is a great there years, past four South that young deal of evidence Africans are deeply politically That engagement is engaged. not being demonstratedthe at But where and how ballot box. A is it being demonstrated? consideration of historical youth help engagement in politics may us recognise some of those same today. processes at work South African Labour
. But though there are .
outh Africa’s sixth democratic Africa’s outh elicited 2019, in May elections, voter a historically low
argues that in looking at the low youth-voter turnout, we should not should we thatargues Heffernan Anne atlooking in lowthe turnout, youth-voter conflate political with disinterest in affecting with the process of elections disaffection are eligible to do so is potentially just The decision not to vote by those who change. Heffernan a ballot in favouras politically intentional as casting of one party or another. of youth politics by looking atoffers a historical perspective youth protest from 1976, (from 2015). Must Fall and Fees 1984, Just as we can understand the can understand Just as we
Bulletin
Historical Historical politics on youth perspectives Protest as political voice political as Protest choice not to vote as a political choice not to vote it is important to consider the one, that people engage in politics ways many reasons people might choose many should not conflate we not to vote, disaffection with the process of elections with disinterest in The affecting political change. those who by decision not to vote are eligible to do so is potentially just as politically intentional of as casting a ballot in favour a It sends one party or another. message to parties and political leaders and has the capacity to influence election results.
. Youth participation in the Youth turnout. of particularlyelections was low; only those who registered to vote, under the age of 30. 21% were – in particular, ‘apathy’ This voter who did not the high rate of youth – has attracted attention in vote and the press and from analysts, it is the point of departure this for issue of the S IN THE PAST 34 SA Labour Bulletin laid thegroundwork for generations on theirpolitical activism. They also circumnavigated theseconstraints ofpoliticalprotestthat history in a deepandproud participated took tothestreetsinJune1976 they and theirrace. Instead, whenthey by boththeirage disenfranchised was impossiblefor them; they were march throughthestreets. Voting –leadinga action through direct the classroom. engagement beganwithissuesin That istosay, thestudents’ political their own personalexperience ofit. protestat theirprimary directed about thesystemasawhole, they students of1976were concerned because, is important though the (Ndlovu 2017).of apartheid This within thelarger repressive system as thosecircumstancesexisted streets inthewinterof1976, even Soweto studentstotake tothe inside theclassroomthatdrove argues thatitwas circumstances during theSoweto Uprising. Ndlovu School at Phefeni JuniorSecondary M. Ndlovu, whowas alsoastudent strongly madeby historianSifiso Students voiced theirgrievances Fees MustFall protest. Credit: MichaelCarter Vol 43Number 2and3 even 1994. after and againstapartheid of thestruggle engagement intheremainingyears hallmarks ofyoung people’s political youth andstudentissueswere tobe come. andafocus action on Direct of studentandyouth to activists concerns wereconcerns classroom-specific, a nationalplatform. Many ofthese to students tobringtheirconcerns Front (UDF),Democratic allowing to theUnited their sharedaffiliation with civicsandunionsthrough at theschoollevel. Itcoordinated body representingstudentinterests (COSAS) emerged asanational Congress ofSouth African Students and students. Inparticular, the ofbothyouth political formations could do. Ithadalsoledtonew consciousness aboutwhatstudents thenational Uprising hadraised right. The events theSoweto after as apoliticalforce intheirown were increasinglyrecognised become common. Young people young peopleinSouth Africa had mid-1980s, politicalprotestsamong 1976,Nearly adecadeafter by the 1984 grievance withspecificandtargeted andrespondingtopolitical action thetrendofdirect radicalising led by young people. Tactics surged. These clasheswere often against policeinthetownships marches. and attacks Arson rates liketactics boycotts, stay-aways, and political violence, inadditionto the useofnew of militantforms confrontationbrought this direct with thestate. Rueedinotesthat confrontation toamoredirect turn ofthetownship revolts start anda as ideologiesofliberation. experiences ofoppression, aswell was influenced by theirlived young peopleinthe Vaal Triangle the politicalconsciousnessofthese Soweto in1976, Rueediargues that Similarly totheyoung peopleof of thestruggle’ (Rueedi2015). youth were ‘the shocktroopers and protestover rising rents, black foracross generations massaction noted thatwhiletherewas support Rueedihas historian Franziska Vaal UprisingofSeptember1984, protest politics. Writing aboutthe of developing anew of form where youth were attheforefront townships inthe Vaal Triangle, to theoutbreakofprotestsin ‘ungovernable’. Hewas responding South Africa tomake thecountry Radio Freedom for theyouth of the ANC inexile, madecallson 1985 Oliver Tambo, presidentof of themid-1980s. In1984and vanguard ofthetownship revolts youth congresses, alsobecamethe tofightthesystem.efforts and schoolstay-aways, intheir campaigns, includingclassboycotts led educationallybasedprotestsand Education. The studentsofCOSAS ofBantu by theDepartment educational systempresidedover a publicgood, butnotthebroken struggle.apartheid Educationwas ofthebroaderanti- the context also amplified thesegrievances in punishment by teachers, butCOSAS like endingtheuseofcorporal The Vaal Uprising marked the Students ofCOSAS, andaffiliated IN THE PAST 35
December 2019/January 2020 , a struggle song , What is striking about theWhat is striking In addition to these explicit form of different This is a very Anne Heffernan is an assistantAnne Heffernan professor in history at Durham Her book Limpopo’s University. PressLegacy was released by Wits this year. demands, which included calls for which included demands, infrastructure school improving and safety. people in South young that ways in politics engage Africa today on pastit draws much is how The protests since generations. and explicit included 2015 have earlier student to implicit references carried signs students have protests: the generation of 1976, referencing popular songsand one of the most protests was Must Fall during Fees Solomon’ ‘iYoh a young about Solomon Mahlangu, who operative Sizwe Umkhonto we One of the in 1979. executed was atmost visible outcomes of Fallism Witwatersrand of the the University the renaming of Senate Housewas to Solomon Mahlangu House. shared historical references, practices unite student politics of SouthThough past and present. a democratic Africa is now state, of the use many students today same tactics of direct action – protest including class boycotts, sometimes even and marches, students the political violence – like combatting apartheidwho were in also tendThey the 1970s and 1980s. their engagement directlyto focus on educational issues and their lived as students and young experience people. in political engagement from voting one in but it is undeniably elections, African people South which young a deep history. have in-source workers on some in-source workers Despite their poor turnout in the Fallists also raised a rangeFallists of most impressively, Perhaps CONCLUSION has been inSince 2016 Fallism part due in to harsherdecline, but it – like policing on campuses, it – before the student movements has left an imprint on the nation’s understanding and expectations of people. its young African youth South elections, May In fact, are not politically apathetic. the elections, just a month before thousands of COSAS-affiliated students marched through the CBD tostreets of the Johannesburg seeking a response Luthuli House, ANC to a memorandum of from the challenged financial and academicchallenged and poor infrastructureexclusions these In both and resources. protests and in the later instances, direct action and Fallists, led by (sometimes) destruction of property tactics. as political employed were the students’ issues that arose from the beyond but went experience, The Rhodes fees. specific issue of a initiated movement Must Fall about decolonising conversation that African universities South in which black highlighted the ways students and staff are alienated in A crucial institutions. their own about national conversation and the role of pedagogy, inclusion, began. African universities public reached out to campusFallists of whom had been many workers, measure outsourced as a cost-saving in the early 2000s. universities by protesting Solidarity between strengthened students and workers the positions of both groups and led to a commitment eventually to campuses. Union and the Luthuli House, The set of issues that Fallists References: Perspectives, New Uprisings: in Soweto classrooms’ and ideological struggles inside Soweto language, ‘Cultural imperialism, (2017) S.M. Ndlovu, UNISA Press. Pretoria: Commemorations and Memorialisations, The Journal of the Africa: 1980–86’, Africa, South Triangle, Vaal of the African townships of violence in the Patterns ‘‘Siyayinyova!’: (2015) F. Rueedi, 395-416. pp. 85:3, Africa Institute, International Buildings. not new: brought to attention were the rising cost of was foremost Africa, higher education in South and the increasing burden that students and their families had to The proportion bear in this regard. universities of state funding for and had been declining since 2000, much of this shortfall passed was on to students through rising fees. had already exclusions Financial especially led to student resistance, on the campuses of historically Sisulu Walter black universities. in the Eastern Cape, University, of Limpopo and the University spates of violentboth experienced which student protests in 2010, Thirty-nine after the students years to the streets had taken of Soweto thirty-one after the years in 1976, years twenty-one and Uprising, Vaal first democratic Africa’s after South elections the country itself found student protests again. by riveted student the largest These were of apartheid. protests since the end designation (as the collective Fallism is the affiliatedfor movements called) began in March 2015 with and coalescedRhodes Must Fall in October underlater that year At the banner #FeesMustFall. October in late 2015, its height, student-led protests and occupations the nation’s successfully shut down Students put major universities. of seats pressure directly on key protesting at in the country, power headquarters ANC’s the , Parliament at 2015 protests have continued to be a key be a key continued to protests have South young which by mechanism their expressed African people politics. IN THE COMMUNITY 36 SA Labour Bulletin underthe served asanintern clerk.and filing During2009I transfer clerk,branch receptionist studies; I worked asaninter- completingmy after shortly workingLPM: Istarted in2000 history? toyourworkbackground ST: Pleasegive usthe 1999. Business andComputerStudiesin which Iobtainedat Academy of diploma inMarketing Management, LPM: Tertiary education, Ihave a of education? ST: What isyourhighest level LPM: Iamafemale. identify yourselfas? ST: Which genderdoyou Mogapi. LPM: Portia MynameisLerato surname? ST: What isyourfullnameand (Soweto Action Committeesecretary) Interview with LeratoPortia Mogapi Lerato PortiaLerato Mogapi Vol 43Number 2and3 training aspects of all learnerships ofalllearnerships aspects training forcetraining whereImanagedall manager under as aproject skills. In2012, Ibeganworking which provided onsoft training (non-violent communication) internships. This includedNVC Programme), and learnerships EPWP (ExpandedPublic Works of Johannesburg) on projects andmanagedCOJ(City I directed andcommunities.projects In2011 a relationshipbetween special now focusing onestablishing the sameproject, however, 2010 Iproceededtoserve under opportunities. Then inNovember the youth for employment andalsosourcing and internships focusing mostlyonlearnerships in2010nowthe sameproject re-employedwas further under managing clients’ accounts. I of applyingcandidates, and responsible for capturingCVs administrator special project like water andelectricity.like water ofbasicservices theprivatisation SAC struggleagainst employment, fightingcrimeinthecommunity, andthe they discussLerato’s roleinhelpingthe youth attain the Soweto Action Committee(SAC). Inthisinterview, community activistLeratoPortiaMogapi(LPM)of Witwatersrand studentfromtheUniversityof MA sociology (ST) interviews Skhumbuzo Tshabalala (ST) interviews projects. undervarious opportunities the youth withemployment in humancapital, thereby, assisting experience hasalways specialised under SETA until2017. Mywork tools to further theinterests of our tools tofurther SRWP where we utilisedMarxist whenIjoinedthe started activism (SRWP),Party andmy political Revolutionary WorkersSocialist committeememberofthe central LPM: Ihave always beenaloyal when andhow youstarted? pleasetell us organisation; involved inany political ST: Have youever been serve thecommunity. community work asIcontinueto am employed of inthecontext I amunemployed; however, I LPM: Onthesystemdatabase employed orunemployed? ST: Soareyoucurrently IN THE COMMUNITY 37 December 2019/January 2020 ) to mobilise and Diepkloof Urban News The Sowetan inform people about events taking inform people about events I also used to be a union place. or LPM: Everything; prepaid electricity Everything; LPM: impacted negatively meters have Due to inability to afford, the poor. people end up using alternative which results in accidents energy have and again they such as fires, imposed class division between and those those who can afford Those who who cannot afford. are tend to think we can afford are we because anti-governmental challenging the government always this then with little issues; labels us as the enemies of the government. mobilised SAC ST: How has and are directly who those affected? indirectly mobilises through SAC LPM: and seminars conferences marches, we the Karl Marx seminar; like each other during get to know finding out the presentations, and their interest of organisations (president Seth Mazibuko work. also has ties with a radio of SAC) normally call to station where we public announcement on make such also use local media, We air. FM and the community as Jozi ( newspaper ST: What impact did prepaid impact did ST: What on the electricity meters have poor? microwaves and washing machines. machines. washing and microwaves installed prepaid The recently electricity into meters are divided card, contain a SIM they three: which deducts for an amount the contractor coverage; network then the consumer and Eskom, uses the amount left after all With unemployment deductions. people sitting at [29] per cent, are struggling prepaid to afford particularly electricity meters, source of any in the absence of call hence we household income, which will at a flat-rate system, for the Eskom least contribute towards debt recovery. To convince communities around convince To ST: How were prepaid electricity meters introduced in your area? Prepaid electricity meters LPM: installed during 2016 without were moreover, community approval; educated not even people were operated these devices on how being told that prepaid except upgrade electricity would meters the system and reduce power done without This was failures. proper consultation with the community and fair engagement people adequate time to to give understand the concept of prepaid came Eskom electricity meters. which clearly with the policy, signalled a fight rather than There constructive engagement. of deception, also evidence was required to sign as people were an attendance register that was later used against the community claiming that community signatures represented their consent for We prepaid electricity meters. of the prevalence also discovered exclusionary mechanisms as Eskom consulted with the local councillors the broader without involving community. used as was Dobsonville Soweto, that prepaid to show a pilot study, electricity meters can be a success. Dobsonville suffers However, that the discover the most as we using stopped even residents have some of the appliances such as ST: What ways were used by the used by the were ways ST: What individuals? MCF to mobilise mobilised people through We LPM: public meetings, of mouth, word and loudhailers, pamphlet flyers some example, For and so forth. of will spread through word news sometimes through forums mouth, us with a platform to that provided activistssocialise with other from in places and invite them different struggles. our everyday EPWP absorbed workers within within workers EPWP absorbed ratherthe community than outside. LPM: The MCF dealt with a with a The MCF dealt LPM: it dealt of issues; great variety with housing crises where we assisted people in gaining access to residential flats at Flarrop In occupation. through forceful ensured that this instance we shortlisted people who were and access obtained ownership The MCF also to living spaces. led a struggle against Eskom’s installation of prepaid electricity meters around Meadowlands through mobilising people to refuse prepaid electricity meters. to reconnectOur strategy was electricity immediately after it was In terms of crime, disconnected. with local police engaged we Forums through Community Patrol which drastically reduced (CPF), The crime around hotpot areas. MCF also monitored and ensured that community projects such as ST: What issues did you deal issues did ST: What MCF? with under the LPM: I started LPM: in the Meadowland as known well Community Forum, old. 26 years I was when the MCF, ST: Tell us when you started us when ST: Tell engaging in community affairs? ST: How exactly did you assist ST: How exactly youth? the I started LPM: assisting the youth help each (we under the Siyasizana Programme other) Job Pathway people in placed young where we EPWP internships, learnerships, and other workplace projects, I also participated programmes; meetings councillors’ in different which is called section 79, for recruited the youth where we In a nutshell, projects. employment I specialised in human capital, absorption and youth skills transfer into labour markets. people and in doing so I assisted in doing so I assisted people and them into jobs getting by the youth with the community and assisting and housing as crime, issues such prepaid electricity struggles. meters IN THE COMMUNITY 38 SA Labour Bulletin They alsocommittedto facilitate and we wait for theirresponse. suspend installationstoEskom they willsubmittherequestto LPM: NERSAassuredSAC that recommendations madeby SAC? of NERSAtowards the ST: What was the response installation inpoorcommunities. the suspensionofprepaidmeter supply (solargeysers) andfinally installation ofalternative energy them, communityforums, the work for thosewhowishtohave workshops onhow thedevices community ofSoweto, educational method thatwillincludethe and we’ve proposedaconsultation distribution,process ofelectricity have requestedrenegotiationofthe recommendations toEskom. We LPM: SAC hasmadeanumberof recommendations toNERSA? ST: HasSAC madeany that leadsustothegovernment. short, SAC usesany information toscheduleameeting.office In would toagovernment godirectly Committee. Insomecaseswe (NERSA) andtheParliamentary Energy Regulator ofSouth Africa government throughtheNational office. We alsoengagewiththe make follow-ups onthetargeted we appointedtoenquireand LPM: We have memberswho have beenusedbySAC? whatthe government, strategies ofengagingwith ST: Interms communities. where we mobilised affected pamphlets for themeeting hall andprinteddistributed Diepkloof andZola, a arranged July, we clusteredMeadowlands, for example, atthemarchon18 so we cluster areasaltogether, aclusteringprogramme,to draft leadership alsocomestogether our communitystruggles. The SAC drawing theworking classinto byfor ourstruggle ustoextend activist, whichmakes iteasier Vol 43Number 2and3 Parliamentary Committee. Parliamentary andresponsesfromthe reports previous meetings, memorandums, to to submitdocumentspertaining assessed. SAC was alsorequested so thatitcanbeanalysedand forrate system flat structure should submittheproposedtariff argued thatSACNERSA further the end-userforums inSoweto. customer educationthrough community. and employ peoplewithinthat the communityshouldtrain, skill Eskom within undertaken project andthatevery pricing structure these new devices work, their where we would discusshow dialogues withthecommunity with Eskom, urging Eskom tohold representatives have beenengaging LPM: SAC andcommunity structures? the establishedthrough formal installation ofprepaidmeters ST: Howhas SAC contestedthe issues tothetargeted office. COJ whohelpedusinbringingour talking torelevant peoplewithin yourscratch back’ methodthrough We usedthe my backIwill ‘scratch to assistuswithrelevant people. government penetrated structures through SethMazibuko whoeasily LPM: SAC hasengagedwithCOJ how? and meters, prepaid electricity with regard toinstallationof Johannesburg municipality suchstructures asthe Cityof with other government ST: HasSAC ever engaged had initiallyagreed toattend. the absenceof Eskom althoughit meetings would thenbeheldin this happened. The community on itsplans, however, noneof meetings andgive first-handclarity community andattend making promisestovisitthe LPM: Eskom, asusual, kept on of that approach? ST: Andwhat was the outcome afford topay. thosewhocannot undermine City Power, suchdifferences mostly purchasedthrough than electricity Eskom aremoreexpensive tariffs beginning ofthemonth. Lastly, atthe to onlypurchaseelectricity quickly, thereby forcing people end ofthemonthdepletesmore purchasedtowardselectricity the not responsiblefor it. Thirdly, the passed totheirchildrenwhoare of it; thedebtofdeceasedis thosewhoarenotpart undermines debt inheritedfromthedeceased Secondly, theissueofhistorical ithasbeenpurchased.after voucher not working shortly customers, thisresultsinthe prepaid vouchers soldtodifferent that somevendors duplicate LPM: Firstly, asSAC we areaware meters? prepaid electricity against the installationof SAC raised intheir struggle ST: What other disputeshas full. the government ispaidin officials andthemoney lootedbyscrapped pay acentuntiltheirdebtis LPM: No, ourcommunities won’t services? electricity residents topay for water and foris appropriate Soweto ST: Doyouthinkthat it atthetop.corruption and Joburg Water duetotheir any amountowed tobothEskom community hasvowed nottopay used by government officials, the LPM: Following thedeception payment? service water andelectricity of the community towards ST: What isthe actualposition IN THE COMMUNITY 39 December 2019/January 2020 However, there might be However, M: What does this organisationM: What mean to you? ABM the Honestly speaking, NM: It is the only to me. means life that speaks directly to organisation as civic societies the issues that we us to fight the and it helps face, It as well. battles of exploitation it is I believe promotes equality. where I belong because the youth, are not especially the poor youth, recognised in our days. interview the M: Before dangers you mentioned the What associated with activism? been your highlight and has are danger why with all the you still active? There are dangers and threats, NM: don’t fight the corrupt but if we system who is and manipulative going to fight it? but that dangers and threats, doesn’t hinder us from doing the do. we work progressive great, are quite we and foremost, First of the king of monster that aware is assassinating our leaders and despite the dangers and threats Though back off can’t now. we it is often risky and hard to fight rights and for our human dignity. our human dignity. rights and for promised to This is not what was fighting were our parents as they democratic a new society. for (NM), a young activist of activist young a (NM), Mndiyata Ntlakanipho M: When did you join Abahlali did you join Abahlali M: When baseMjondolo? Abahlali baseMjondolo was NM: I recently joined in 2005. founded April 2017 after in the movement was pushed I finishing matric. area, the conditions in my by seeing that no one cares or talks about our issues as the poor and There is vulnerable civic societies. of many a lack of service delivery, peers are the people who are my in those who stay unemployed; access to clean shacks do not have sanitary facilities, drinking water, on top Yet, and the list goes on. brutal still experience we of it all, If we in our communities. evictions get we try to challenge the state, killed on a daily basis when all we for our human are doing is fighting M: Did you vote in the previous M: Did you vote in the did it mean elections and what you? for in the previous I voted NM: electionsmeant that I have and it to influence change the power of in the current governance the for I voted Africa. South year’s first time in this very me, for Voting, general elections. my exercising meant that I was democratic right of choosing I trust think will and whoever be able to present and address struggles the working-class appropriately.
Access to clean drinking water to clean drinking water Access and sanitation causes Political Economic opportunities Ending inequality Issues of unemployment Revolution Abahlali baseMjondolo. They discuss what led him to join the movement, the meaning They discuss what led him to join the movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo. and his views about an alternative system. of land, (M) interviews(M) weNkosi uMbuso NM: • • Adolescent pregnancy • • • • • The Fourth Industrial M: What social, political, M: What and economic causes are you passionate about? NM: I am Ntlakanipho Mndiyata I am Ntlakanipho Mndiyata NM: I am originally from (Wisdom). the Eastern in the Cape province of semi-ruralBizana town areas. born I was on 10 June 1997 in up in I grew Greenville Hospital. studied at Lindokuhle Redoubt, I then Junior Secondary School. uMlazi relocated to Durban, at the age of 12 and township, matric in Zwelihle completed my young, I am a proud, High School. articulate land activist and a member of the biggest movement Abahlali Africa which is in South baseMjondolo. M: Tell me about yourself? M: Tell were you are you? When (Who born? do you stay?) Where
(Wisdom) of Abahlali Basemjondolo of (Wisdom) Interview with Ntlakanipho Mndiyata Mndiyata Ntlakanipho with Interview IN THE COMMUNITY 40 SA Labour Bulletin the righttoland. bybecomes anactivist fighting for then automaticallytheindividual the individualfacingeviction and whichleadsto buy anapartment in landoccupationifunableto individual islandlessandresults iswhenan Land activism number ofyoung landactivists… NM: Yes, we have amassive many younglandactivists? haveM: Doesyourorganisation functions/programmes. and usingitfor non-capitalist having free, equalaccess toland a free, united African continent NM: ofland,As anactivist Isee imagine asanactivist ofland? M: What kindoffuturedoyou purposes. Landisalifetime legacy. be usedwithcare. Notfor profit fromGodanditdeserves to gift land aswe regarditasaprecious It is ABM culturethatwe respect NM: Landisavery broadterm. for you? M: What doeslandmean progress inthemovement. have invested and theirtrust the leadersandcommunities aswell,the struggle priortothat would mean sellingthepeopleand way offightingto avoid danger. totakinglegalroutesasa resort people withalltheresources, we are notrecognised inourdays. promotes equality. I believe it is where I belong becausethe youth, especially the poor youth, that weascivicsocietiesface,andithelpsustofightthebattlesofexploitationwell.It The ABMmeanslifetome.Itistheonlyorganisationthatspeaksdirectly totheissues Backing off becauseoffearBacking off Vol 43Number 2and3
proclaiming? issuesisthe ABM rights M: What areother human elitist. organised systemthatissomewhat an andpoliticsencourage parties have becausepolitical aplatform the poorwould notbeableto citizenship andwithoutthem Social movements active encourage is failingtokeep itspromises. the government atthemoment –indicatingthat do moreoften we take tothestreets, whichwe promises. Ifthegovernment fails that government delivers onits We aretheonesthatmake sure keep incheck. ourdemocracy At themomentsocialmovements that andwon, henceit’s possible. and Brazil Venezuela, they’ve done achieve alot. Incountrieslike together underonevision, we can and we have mobilisedourselves democracy. When thetimeisright inour a politicalimportance NM: Yes, socialmovements have national elections? deciding tocompeteinthe socialmovements concerning What areyourthoughts inourdemocracy?importance movements have apolitical M: Doyouthinkthat social service delivery.service decision-making; theright tobasic abuse issues; accommodation in focus alsoonwomen andchild- working withFees MustFall. We the city. We have recentlystarted NM: Equalaccesstoland. Rightto removed easily. because tomorrow they canbe of belonginginthisSouth Africa in shacksdonothave asense homeless? People especiallythose prized iftherearepeoplewho the questionofland. Canlandbe state needstolookagaininto and profits. This young, democratic a commodity, asourceofincome, existing elites. To themlandisonly the and itismeanttobenefit few The landisprizedby thesystem it even intheprizingofland. the youth inthiscountry. We see to recognisethelandlessnessof youth isalsoreflected inthefailure youth. by theeldersonbehalfof theyouthimpact aredecidedupon this isbecausealltheissuesthat us arejobless, uneducatedand recognised, hencethemajorityof NM: We asyoung people arenot unrecognition? think isthe causeofthisyouth last statement?What doyou M: Canyouelaborate onyour processes ofthe system. inthe decision-making participate andactivelydemocratically as apeoplewe willhave to socialist system. Mostimportantly, could work asitislikely tobea access toland, thenthatsystem the peopleanditensuresequal improve thelivingconditionsof humankind andisstrivingto anddignityforrespect all alternative systemisbasedon have itsown problems, butifthe NM: An alternative systemmay beaddressed? problems Howcanthose own problems? systemwillhavealternative its don’tproblem, youthinkan M: Ifitisthe systemthat isthe This failuretorecognisethe IN THE COMMUNITY 41
December 2019/January 2020 In Alex the land still belongs toAlex In Soweto, thus many of the forcibly thus many Soweto, dumped residents were removed 1958 the apartheid In Alex. back in on again embarked government and a programme to remove Alex, relocate the residents of Alex this time 56,000 residents of and 15,000 to Soweto moved were on the East Tembisa residents to As a result of the forced Rand. could the government removals, Alex buy and demolish houses of or participationwithout consent, As a form of from the community. this unfair removals, consolation for compensated those relocated were their homes. with R1,770 for relocated residents many Moreover, Alex, back to their way found is closer tobecause the township their places of work. though the even the government is a democracy. current government title residents do not have Alex This state of affairs has deeds. to ‘land grabs’ made it possible for occur with little legal consequences There is the perpetrators. for contestation’ ‘legitimate also little from ‘land grabs’ concerning these for Alex in lived those who have and this is the decades, several ultimate contributor to the existing (interviewAlex in overcrowding 2019). with Manana, . We structured the We . 1 Manana first gave us a brief Manana first gave as a testament ofAlex history of She Alex. she is in invested how a farm was thatAlex that explains used to belong to H.B Papenfus. later sold small plots ofPapenfus Alexander land to Blacks and soon In proclaimed a township. was 1948 the apartheid government on a programme ofembarked 5,000 residents removing forcibly But to Orlando in Soweto. Alex of not enough homes in there were THE INTERVIEW WITH THEMBENI MANANA interview so as to cover not only not interview so as to cover April protest but also the the 5 The June 19 June 2019 protest. protest became the intensification Manana was April protest. of the andinstrumental in the organisation April and the the facilitation of the June protests. protests like the ‘buycott’ which ‘buycott’ the protests like from buying things are boycotts to intensifyin the local economy the pressure on all stakeholders. This included not buying from the decided to sit We local PicknPay. 26 July with her on Friday down an interview/conversation 2019 for fascinated by were because we the political in her zeal as a youth protest actions and leading arena, in Alexandra
he Alexandra township total Alex) as (known a protest was shutdown
looks at the Alex shutdown brought to the fore movement which looks atNomusa Nkwanyana the also The disgruntled community Alexandra township. the lack of service delivery in and nationalcalled for local to address the state leaders township. of the See interview captured by Sithembiso Mdlalose for SALB at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NYqA9aAMWc See interview Sithembiso Mdlalose for captured by
1 Alex Shutdown Alex
that literally demonstrated the that calls’. ‘the smoke phrase protests on beset by was Alex Alexandra the April 2019 led by 3 which movement, Shutdown Total shutdownAlex the organised theprotest as an attempt to draw to attention of the government The protests poor service delivery. and threatened lasted three weeks the smooth running of the national the As a form of reprisal, election. president set up an inter-ministerial to deal with was which task team, the concerns of the residents of hand in hand with working Alex Shutdown. Alex the members of started Shutdown Alex off asThe a service and land-rights- delivery The movement oriented movement. into a much broader developed varietya looking at social movement which could of social problems, the government be addressed by One leading sector. and the private was Shutdown Alex figure of the a vibrant youth Thembeni Manana, of at the forefront who was activist, Throughout the protest, the protest. Manana articulated the concerns with clarity in of the movement Shutdown Alex The the media. several also preceded by was T IN THE COMMUNITY 42 SA Labour Bulletin the reasonthat the April protest sector. These socialillsbecame government andtheprivate underinvestment fromthe lack ofeducationandoverall forstruggle shelterandland, rape, crime, gangsterism, the poverty, underdevelopment, also besetby unemployment, the bulgingpopulation. Alex is have thecapacitytoservice is claimingthatitdoesnot delivery, andthegovernment by poorservice is characterised then. As aresult, thetownship have increasedsubstantiallysince in radius Alex andthose numbers 180,000 livingwithina6.91km In 2016therewere morethan the perpetrators. little legalconsequencesfor for ‘landgrabs’tooccurwith affairs hasmadeitpossible title deeds.Thisstateof Alex residents donothave isademocracy.government even thoughthecurrent belongs tothegovernment In Alex,thelandstill Alexandra, Johannesburg. Credit: SithembisoMdlalose Vol 43Number 2and3
facilitated movement. is awell-organised, andwell that the Alex shutdown movement held. Also theseprotestsshowed that asecondprotestmustbe did notbecomesufficient, and AND DEVELOPMENT cheap labour from thetownship. intellectually, asaprotestagainst be viewed morebroadly, and delivery protest, butit should be reducedtoamereservice daily. of workers from Alex toSandton cohesion’ thousands bridgescarry (2017)explainsProject that ‘social north. ofFreedomThe Corridors community oftheJohannesburg to unite Alex withthebroader dispensation the post-apartheid built asalacklustreattemptby ‘Social cohesion’ bridgeswere from Alex toJohannesburg north. skilled andsemi-skilledlabourers bridges’, under- whichexport bridges or ‘labour exporting Alex throughthesocialcohesion made aware oftheexistence of and industrialparks. Oneisonly Alex ishiddenbehindfactories location, ofgeographical In terms LAND, CHEAPLABOUR, The Alex Shutdown shouldnot
seek employment opportunities, Africa andSouthern Africa to South ofrural from otherparts Alex, mostofwhom migrated labour reserve. The residentsof evening. inthelate onlytoreturn morning places ofemployment inthe residents/labourers move totheir decreases duringtheday asthe on how thepopulationof Alex Businesstech (2019)alsoreported Sandton, andCenturion. Midrand workers from Alex work in 19,242 unskilledandsemi-skilled thatapproximatelyreported ecosystem’. Businesstech(2019) ofthis unequaleconomicrunning basis, whoensurethesmooth the residentsof Alex onadaily the cheaplaboursuppliedby differently ifitwere notfor [Sandton] would very function that Manana asserts ‘this place and morespecificallySandton. suburbs areas inthenorthern cheap labourtothemoreaffluent is oneofthebiggersuppliers their employers inSandton.’ Alex relationship between workers and inapowerto theasymmetry total shutdown spoke directly As Mananaargued, the ‘Alex Alex epitomisestheideaofa IN THE COMMUNITY 43
December 2019/January 2020 In the protests, some of the In the protests, the After national elections, the Nomusa Nkwanyana is an MA Nomusa Nkwanyana candidate in international Universityrelations at Wits and SALB intern 2019. for means that their problems were were their problems means that national of the state’s the outcome and economic policies and foreign decisions made the investment sector. the private by or ignored in our interview, Hence Manana, I ‘I wish able to declaim: was that could could create a bomb capitalism.’ destroy missing from the were youth decided to street but instead using social by solidarity show that political This shows media. mass actiondigital era in this Shutdown Alex The has changed. on trended at least once a day the duration of the for Twitter The youth protest/shutdown. took to social media not only to report updates on the and provide also provided but they shutdown, and analysis on the shutdown documented the reactions of the and the provincial municipal, national government. committee was inter-ministerial the change in cabinet. by dissolved are back to Alex The residents of which is were, where they cheap labour to the providing surrounding affluent neighbourhoods in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Shutdown Alex the Nevertheless, impactfulwas because it made the conscious of their Alex residents of and it showed social problems, for could fight them that they these problems to be solved. POLITICS WILL ALWAYS TAKE TAKE POLITICS WILL ALWAYS INTEREST IN YOU! that the Manana expressed that believes Alex in youth old for ‘politics is reserved corrupt people who abuse state their funds and resources for As a result, personal benefit’. politics as perceive the youth an ancillary of the state feature and as something that does not necessarily affect their lives not interested ‘If you’re directly. be politics will always in politics, Because you’ll interested in you. be used as a point of always statistics and research, reference, The remarks Manana. so forth’ also a call to was Shutdown Alex could use that they youth Alex the and their democratic their urgency and rights to change their lives The movement their society. Alex of the youth also wanted to realise that the problems they mainly structural; this faced were suitable ‘township economies’. suitable ‘township economies’. made a link between Manana has in homes and cheap overcrowding cheap labour, because of labour; unable to extendparents are their and when their family shacks, and children both parents grows becomes find that privacy To something difficult to have. at Manana this overcrowding homes has affected the education due to the lack of of children, to find it difficult children privacy Manana has do their homework. government also noted that the little sector have and the private interest in skilling the youth has one Alex date to Alex; of in skills the youth which college, hairdressing. Formal schooling and higher schooling and higher Formal Alex epitomises the idea of a labour reserve. The residents of Alex, most of whom migrated residents The labour reserve. Alex epitomises the idea of a and Southern other parts of rural South Africa employment opportunities, Africa to seek from areas. The value of the surrounding to the affluent cheap labour find themselves providing such as the Alex Shutdown disrupts the web of big protest labour goes unnoticed until a exploitation. social inequalities and labour government introduced Black introduced Black government and township Authorities Local an extension as Alex councils in The of their administration. did not take Alex residents of kindly to the proposal and establishing responded by they councils/ township their own administration as an alternative. called was Their counter-council the Alexandra Action Committee. The committee dealt with the by issue of land ownership to issue pushing the government as engaging title deeds as well with trade unions on issues All of the of cheap labour. history that the shows above has had some Shutdown Alex precedents. Alex education institutions in the failed to provide have skills with the relevant youth and training to fully participate build or even in the economy find themselves providing providing find themselves to the affluent cheap labour of value The surrounding areas. until goes unnoticed the labour Alex such as the a big protest of disrupts the web Shutdown and labour social inequalities the first This is not exploitation. time in history the people that the street in such to take Alex of the In 1957 an impactful way. the boycotted Alex residents of Company Transport Public Utility lasted which services, (PUTCO) forced three months and for and the Johannesburg PUTCO City Council to introduce a system subsidised by voucher Chamber of the Johannesburg In 1985 the apartheid Commerce. IN THE COMMUNITY 44 I SA Labour Bulletin curation of the urbanspace Lamentations on the summer evenings saw often her overcome by nostalgia; how hot Free State. Duringourcall, Iwas it looked frombackhomeinthe to callDimakatsoaskingher how Wynberg. Eventually, Iwould go my 4th-floor-located roomin attempting tohave alookfrom while the samefrustration of theurbanspace. Iexperienced one todowiththeconstruction question fromKango’s tweet was of Johannesburg. An emerging to ‘light pollution’ inthecity was home,’ hetweeted, referring would have looked clearerifI shared asimilarexperience. ‘This PhumlaniKango that cameafter was allnotunsound: after anease thatmyfact earlierlamentation inthe immediately gainedcomfort Not everyone couldseeit. I guestamongthe stars.irregular moon,filled renderingitselfan July in2018. Itwas theblood- looked forward toitwas on 27 is afullmoon. The onlytimeI and rememberwhenever there to whom Iremainconnected them andalltheotherstrangers it coincidence, butIremember present andunrelenting. Call would always beafullmoon, ones dyingofdepression, there I received thenews aboutloved Town, Irememberhow each time height ofdepressioninCape with thefullmoon. At the have alove/hate relationship the homelessarebeingpushedoutofcitybygivingthemfines. inCape how oftheurbanspaceandshows Town thecuration Mpho A.Ndabalooksat Vol 43Number 2and3 counting thestars. consistency ofthemoon, while at thevast natureofthesky, the she didsowe couldeasilymarvel lay ablanket outside, something interesting to note how the space jogging routes inthatarea, itwas in relationtothelocationof their In thinkingaboutthosejoggers about andwhogetstodecide this. valued; how suchvaluing comes ofthecityand whatis the history upper campus, tomehighlights under thebridgenotfarfromits who arehomelessandliving location ingeneral, thepeople University ofCape Town andits ofthe physical construction the bridge. others, homelessandlivingunder passed them, therewere plentyof Rhodes Memorial. we Soonafter one oftheroutesleadingto enthusiasts, jogging. This isalong across plentyofhealthandfitness the university campus, we came Just asitmadeitsway outof eventually arrived, andwe left. other sideoftheroad. The bus a brown catwandering onthe of Cape Town’s southstop, Isaw to Claremont. At theUniversity come upwhileIwaited for abus in relationtotheurbanspacehad lamentation, thequestionofhome In thehoursleadingtothis THE CAPE TOWN URBANSPACE When thinking about the When thinkingaboutthe nothing beyond that. animals), canbeseenasthingsand well asthenon-human(plantsand people: how thosewhoarepooras And whatitmeansfor different andused. constructed is generally who are homeless. human decency heaffords people becauseofthekind restaurant threatened tonolongercome tohis from someofthecustomers who an incredibleamountofbacklash business islocated. He experienced in theKenilworth areawherehis with peoplewhoarehomeless in whichRasvalued andinteracted becausethereisawaynecessary they were and having isimportant food. conversation That particular specialisingincurried restaurant owner Curry, ofRagamuffin a was segment oftheshow whereshe shehadconcludedanother after her onthisquestion. Itcomes callers tophoneinandengage going tobethere?’ Shewas asking in thecityandknew they were were place goingtoaparticular people removed from site, ifyou ‘Would you prefer tohave homeless Cape Talk. Sheposedaquestion: usually doneby Sara-Jayne Kingon been standinginonaprogramme Bourhill, hostwhohad atalk-radio find myself listeningtoLinzi Later, midnight, justafter Iwould THE PROBLEMOFHOMELESSNESS interviewing Thinus Ras, the IN THE COMMUNITY 45 December 2019/January 2020 have been been media reports have Or how in the last couple of in the last couple of Or how Town and the broader South and the broader South Town One recent case is the Africa. Ukwazi Ndifuna by revelation Golf indicating that Rondebosch to make R1,000 a year Club pays use of 450,000 square meters of be which can land, well-suited affordable for used alternatively housing. weeks instead indicating that the city, of coming up with multi-layered responses and being self- condemned people who reflexive, rendering them are homeless, giving them fines. criminals by Such a response reaffirms what like organisations progressive Ndifuna Ukwazi the City, Reclaim and Philippi HorticulturalArea all been have (PHA) Campaign, that the city years: for saying does not care about poor people. noted, both these examples With the act of unleashing state violence onto people who are and the mundane homeless, do not exist use of public land, outside the already existing city spaces of how narratives ways the ought to be organised; of property in which the value is thought about in relation to homeless people and notions of a clean space. And of course, the question the question And of course, the question of homelessness, is is the question of homelessness, the curation produced by heavily the purpose of of space for capital generating for money while ensuring comfort for to forced I was white people. white people as on how reflect from a historical a social group, and in the current point of view collaboration are in with milieu, the state and the capital when of it comes to the organisation urban spaces. becomes of class today the important part of the when it comes to conversation racehow and money-driven constructions to continue The interview done by thrive. Bourhill highlighted the need the recognition of the role for of individuals who carry the aspirations of the collective, be it in the case of the middle ‘middle class interests and the attitude that is anti- classness’ There are a number of poor. to to can refer we examples elucidate the collaborations aimed at ensuring race and the instrumental class comfort; role of white people as a social their capacity to okay group, anti-coloured and anti-black, anti-poor practicesin Cape Homeless people in Cape Town. Credit: Aisha Yogi Aisha Credit: Town. Homeless people in Cape Prior to this interview, Bourhill Bourhill Prior to this interview, All these encounters forced had touched on environmental had touched on environmental conservation and the consumption of animal products. draw could you As a listener, her being connections between the environment for an advocate and her being a vegetarian. At the end of the interview, ‘the problem Ras asserted that is not homeless people but Throughout the homelessness.’ how surprised at I was interview, she could miss the connections better for her advocacy between treatment of the non-human and the environment, and beings, the high number of homeless people inside the urban spaces. Assuming that the demand for justice is a central guide to participation in white people’s environmental conservation, those who formally and informally form part of urban animal rights and environmental conservation do not often extend core defining and apply that very when it comes to what is value black people. faced by largely me to grapple with the question of the constructionof the urban my ways in many space and how in relation childhood experience as as well to the idea of nature, IN THE COMMUNITY 46 SA Labour Bulletin were refurbished. Ortheongoing costs oncetheir housingunits force themtopay higher renting developers would whointurn units were beingsoldtoprivate Woodstock in2004, whosehousing two elderlywomen wholived in forget thecasethatinvolved of NdifunaUkwazi. We willnot has beenhighlightedby thelikes surprising. This spacegovernance space isblatant, andthisisnot ofgoverning forms and apartheid in general, theuseofcolonial Town and Western Capeprovince At thelevel oftheCityCape THE POOR HOMELESS AND TOWARDS THE THE BRUTALITY OF THE CITY interests/companies. addition to other factors that create a complexity of sorts, including the role of transnational people asinherently responsible forthelegaciesofsuchoppressive systems.Thisisin racial capitalismasfoundationaltocolonialismandtheapartheidsystem,renders white The environmental problems wefacetoday, asnotedthrough thenotionofAnthropocene, network systems. support family life, lossofincome-earning displacement, breakingdown of ofviolence comesintheform which they were born. The housing inthevery areasin being homeless. through thecityfiningpeople for homelessness areamanifested assertions, whichinthecase of their aspirations. Itisthese the roleofsocialgroupsand posed by Bourhill, demonstrate in additiontothequestion Curry,and aroundRagamuffin people whoarehomelessin abouthavingtheir discomfort Those customerswhoregistered is theproblemofhomelessness. and blackcommunities, andso through theexclusion ofcoloured is somethingthatachieved inCape beautiful scenery Town, is sociallyconceived tobe ofnature,practice andwhat ofideaandsocial construction In turn, they cannotafford The sameway inwhichthe Vol 43Number 2and3
non-human beings. their decision tolimitjustice disdain for blackpeopleguides critique towhitenessandhow the ways, serves asa this assertion in inhumaneconditions. Inmany which causedblackpeople tolive colonialism andapartheid, allof to undoingthelegaciesof saving therhino, thancontributing how whitepeoplecaremoreabout heardthiscommentabout often silent aboutotherissues. We have Anthropocene, yet they remain human beingsinthisageofthe ofthenon- the protection see themselves aschampioning because thereareindividualswho orinformal and emphasiseformal urban environmentalmovement self-reflective ontheirpart. Isay socio-political movements isnot acrossall something thatruns seeing thequestionofjusticeas advancing anti-blackracism, not movement, whileatthesametime oftheurbanenvironmental part form andinformally who formally class comfort. intended for and theaccessofrace oftheirsupport,comes intheform and whitepeople, somethingthat the silenceofmiddleclass businesses succeed, isthrough store. Buttheways inwhichthese developers want tobuildacookie simply becausesomeprivate the landandoutoftheirhomes being homeless, kickingpeopleoff practices,brutal finingpeople for private developers. intheinterestsof the cityacts 2017), allofwhichindicatethat rental stocks(reclaimthecity.org Drive, Estateandother Naruna evictions thatincludetheDe Waal Inthecaseofwhitepeople It isthecitythatenforces these scholar, andproducer. writer Mpho A.Ndabaisanactivist beyond citypolicies. can becritiquedoutsideand the urbanenvironmentalmovement, of part form orinformally formally homeless, thesilenceofthosewho others arebeingfined for being access affordable housing, while instances wherepeoplecannot interests/companies. Therefore, in including theroleoftransnational that createacomplexity ofsorts, This isinadditiontootherfactors legacies ofsuchoppressive systems. inherently responsiblefor the system renderswhitepeopleas colonialism, andtheapartheid capitalism asfoundational to notion ofthe face today, asnotedthroughthe broader WesternCape. today exists asCape Town and the inwhat ofcomfort construction the entrenchmentofwhite for the purposeofensuring Council (DVC), were promulgated Council andtheCapeDivisional implemented by theCapeCity Illegal Squatting Act 52of1951, together withthePrevention of Areas Consolidation Act of1945 policies suchastheNative Urban be agrave mistake because leave systemwould theapartheid van Riebeeckin April 1652. To noted throughthearrivalofJan to theCapePeninsula, something of peoplewhowere indigenous planning, withtheenslavement housing, spatialapartheid of homelessness, unaffordable historical linksbetween problems to can beobserved whenitcomes The environmentalproblemswe This isthesamefailurethat their unwillingness to see the their unwillingnesstoseethe Anthropocene, racial IN THE COMMUNITY 47 December 2019/January 2020 GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AFFIRM A ‘NATIONAL STATISTICS TREND OF AN EVIDENT CRISIS’ – VIOLENCE The social crisis facing the country affirmed was by the latest crime statistics presented Minister Bheki Cele to Police by Committee Portfolio Parliament’s in September 2019. on Police The stats painted a grim picture murdered were – 2,771 women year, during the 2018/19 financial from 2,930 the previous down that stats also showed The year. murdered 1,014 children were year, in the 2018/19 financial a 2.9% increase from the 985 of Justice and Correctional such crime would no Services, he The laws go unpunished. committed to strengthening include ensuring that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes would sentences life be handed down without the possibility of parole. the sentencing of Botha is Perhaps the enactment this promise in of a crime as brutal for but full swing, is there any as that detailed above, justice? The South African government African government The South officer in the South African Police African officer South in the a Jesse Hess, Service (SAPS). theology student at the University found was Cape, Western of the Meghan Cremer, dead on her bed. Sinethemba Arvitha Doodnath, Allison Natasha Conabeer, Ndlovu, Ayakha Govindsamy, Jane Plaatjies, Khanyi Basetsana Kgaole, Jiyane, Karabo Maseko, Khensani Ntanga, some – these are only Mokoena fallen who have of the women of gender- victim to the scourge more based violence but many unnamed and go unknown, undiscovered. civil again summoned by was society to respond to the widespread attacks against women President Cyril and children. Ramaphosa addressed the nation calls from the growing following Ramaphosa In his address, public. to fight to tighten laws vowed the rape and murder of women. He admitted that crimes against and children are indeed a women that the He vowed ‘national crisis’. violence against gender-based laws teeth be given would (GBV) and that under the Department
explore hashtag Mntambo and Nomusa Nkwanyana Nokukhanya N activism as student followsThis of 19-year-old the gruesome murder societal ills. a response to At the Uyinene Mrwetyana onslaught of women in the country. and the perceived used were #AmINext and #MeToo violence, gender-based height of protests sparked by change in society. extensively by the youth to mobilise The high court in Cape Town Town The high court in Cape handed him three life sentences handed him three life and five rape and murder, for the ends of defeating for years igniting justice but not before of protests across the a wave unfolding, While that was country. another similar story making was champion Boxing headlines. shot and Leighandre Jegels was a police her boyfriend, killed by The story of Uyinene Mrwetyana is one that will be remembered for the but it wasn’t to come, years first of its kind and it will likely a chilling story It’s not be the last. student from the of a 19-year-old (UCT) Town of Cape University lured into the Claremont who was by an employee Office Post sexually who then accosted her, assaulted her and bludgeoned her a 42-year-old The suspect, to death. Town Cape at the male employee was a repeat offender. post office, admission read by In a four-page Botha the 42-year-old his counsel, admitted to raping and murdering little to the leaving Mrwetyana, imagination. UYINENE MRWETYANA: A MURDER UYINENE MRWETYANA: AFRICA SOUTH UNRAVELLED THAT
to a standstill Gender activism that brought the country the country activism that brought Gender #AmINext IN THE COMMUNITY 48 SA Labour Bulletin which spilled over intothestreets ignited asocial-media uproar, The deathofMrwetyana andHess macroagressions againstwomen. scale alltheway through tothe has onwomen fromamicro- and theadverse thesystem effects patriarchal relationsinsociety to discoursecentredaround hashtags have openedthefloor a criticismof#MeToo. These response to#MenAreTrash and spheres oflife. #NotAllMenisa onthemacrossall practised and othermicroaggressions sexual misconduct, rape, sexism to sharetheirexperiences of a rebuttalofwomen’s attempt #NotAllMen. The movement is Take for instancethemovement distance itselffromtheproblem? that isalsoalways quickto do we dealwiththecollective ‘collective sport’ by men, how domestic sphere? And ifitisa find itselfnow playing outinthe regime. Buthow didthisviolence andapartheid the colonialrule collective experiences under an implicationofthecountry’s describedashistorical;is often Africa’s tendencytowards violence against women.brutality South in thepoliticalwilltofight there appearstobeanabsence byof theseacts thegovernment, and beyond thecondemnation murders theprevious year. Above Wits demonstrations against gender-based against Wits demonstrations violence, 2019. Credit: SithembisoMdlalose Vol 43Number 2and3 injustices. youth approachsocialillsand ofhow thecountry’scharacteristic social movements have become against women. These online addresses thesystemicviolence role inforging amovement that media alsoplayed animportant standstill. Notsurprisingly, social Stock Exchange) was broughttoa (theJohannesburgconglomerate slain women; thelargest economic in honourofMrwetyana andother including UCTand Wits heldvigils watching. A numberofuniversities delegates –theworld was housed anumberofinternational Economic Forum on Africa which outside Parliament andthe World of South Africa –youth gathered Wits demonstrations against gender-based against Wits demonstrations violence, 2019. Credit: SithembisoMdlalose exposing aperpetrator. high cost/burdenthatcomeswith andthe exposing theperpetrator of thestigmathatcomeswith cases arewell concealedbecause force. This isaplacewhereGBV and inequalityatplay inthelabour because ofthepower dynamics insidiously concealedinplainsight even intheworkplace whereitis home. The scourge ofGBV exists point Africa drives aparticular shutdown South ofcorporate Sandton andtheJSE. The including hubs acrossthecountry to shutdown several commercial Opposing Women(POWA), Abuse society movements suchasPeople Black Women’s Caucusandcivil of socialmovements suchas mobilised, withtheassistance and TotalShutDown,society Using thehashtags AmINext by PresidentRamaphosa. for thepromisesofprosecution down, andhereagainisasetback died unnoticed whenthestorm these hashtagsandthreadswent because themenimplicatedin thelaw ofeffecting fell short crimes, buttheseattemptsalso ofthese expose theperpetrators on socialmediawas createdto chaos. A name-and-shamethread wasoutofthe #AmINext born WITH GBV DEALING MEANS TO ACTIVISM ASA WINDS OFCHANGE: HASHTAG IN THE COMMUNITY 49 December 2019/January 2020
The prevalence of online social of The prevalence Nokukhanya N Mntambo is a Nokukhanya South African broadcast journalist with years of experience in radio broadcasting. Her interests are centred on media andmainly democracy. is an MA Nomusa Nkwanyana candidate in International UniversityRelations at Wits and SALB intern 2019. for reported on. Rosa Lyster, a journalist Lyster, Rosa reported on. asserts that: activist, and gender there is a story in week, ‘Every us that should stop Africa South report a newspaper in our tracks; a freak like detailing what feels demented detonation of psychotic, a one-off violence against women, just of hate that somehow explosion it However, happening.’ on keeps can only we as a nation, seems like, at a case a year deal with one GBV the next our rage for saving time, and civil Social movements year. are working society organisations victimsrigorously on helping of and tryingGBV to spread awareness But can more be done? about GBV. has nonetheless proven movements in least, at the very effective, driving creating awareness, and mobilising youth conversation parents, on the ground – students, personalities alike. media academics, special about theseWhat was hashtags and online mobilisation is national andthat their reach was also The youth global. even extended with their reach to link such as the movements, global GBV to strengthen movement, #MeToo to ring global about the their voice all in one plight of women month ofemotionally charged a sense was There September 2019. of unity and uniformity in the all message being conveyed more Even throughout the world. did notphenomenal is that they in the clouds but withmerely exist women young the same energy, able to confront the issue face were forward. Uyinene Mrwetyana has a shockingUyinene Mrwetyana resemblance to that of 22-year-old killed and burned Karabo Mokoena, boyfriend, recognition by beyond Two in 2017. Sandile Mantsoe, of the on and little is spoken years in It is brought up as leverage case. ‘pretty privilege’, about arguments by the apparent privilege enjoyed in her a beautiful girl that even gruesome death she is the talk of minimise dead women We the town. to their looks and come back to ask the pertinent questions about holding perpetrators accountable only after this debate has been fear This is the fate that we settled. that her will suffer: Mrwetyana death and that of Hess and the will be in other slain women many notes that the general POWA vain. about GBV public tends to forget cases far too quickly, and GBV are not heavily especially when they something deeper about our society. something deeper about our society. It became clear that the attitudes Africans are among the of South As a nation, catalysts of this crisis. are nonchalant about these we issues until the next gruesome case ofThe case is publicised. Wits demonstrations against gender-based violence, 2019. Credit: Sithembiso Mdlalose Sithembiso Credit: 2019. violence, Wits demonstrations against gender-based In addition, these hashtags were these hashtags were In addition, the Not without its flaws, also used to facilitate extensive also used to facilitate extensive about educational conversations Social-media platforms such GBV. turned into a safe were Twitter as who survivors space where GBV been silenced had previously the shame of their ordeal to by named share their stories even and shamed their perpetrators. remains a reality in a society GBV steeped in gender inequality and asymmetrically disproportionate men and dynamics between power in society. women revealed online social movement become victimised, labelled as liars become victimised, and are subjectto repeated abuses. The paradigm and structures of the in are tightly woven patriarchy and non- and inequality workplace, gender norms are the progressive order of the day. Every week, there is a storyEvery in South Africa that should stop week, there feels likewhat detailing report newspaper a tracks; our in us of psychotic, demented violence against detonation a freak keepsjust somehow that hate of explosion one-off a women, on happening. Women are most affected by GBV GBV are most affected by Women to have they in the workplace; constantly tread lightly around the because their jobs issue of GBV and reputations are on the line. enough to Those who are brave report their abusers and expose IN THE COMMUNITY 50 I SA Labour Bulletin 2 1 tojoblessness A roadmap Revolution and climate change The Fourth Industrial climate change, andhow itwill of the4IRand at theintersection Ultimately, willlook thisarticle the oneoutsideSasoloffices. across thecountry, specifically look attherecentclimatestrikes change. willalso This article 4IR isandhow climate itaffects willlookatwhatthe this article IndustrialRevolution;the Fourth time beenpushingtheideaof African government hasfor some must keep thisinmind. The South crisis, andany futurewe envision humanity today istheclimate the biggestchallengefacing arecentred.vulnerable Arguably future, wherethepoorandmost toenvisionabetter important https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/fourth-industrial-revolution https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/what-is-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/ and persistingpoverty, itis world, increasinginequality ofaheating n thecontext Buildings, andParliament. GautengLegislature such astheUnion keysitesofthecountry there werevariousactionstakingplaceat climate governmentinactionagainst change. toprotestagainst gathered InSouth Africa, climate strikesof20September2019, whereclimate justiceactivistsaroundtheworld ofthevulnerableinoursociety.and thefurthermarginalisation Morgancoversthe about climate change because, inherently, thesetwotrendsarebothaboutinequality thediscussionabout4IRisrelevantto Courtney Morganarguesthat Vol 43Number 2and3 who canafford toexperience it. how those 4IRwillonlybenefit only createmoreinequality, and This is the idea that technology will This istheideathattechnology will call the ‘cyber-physical systems’. and itistheonsetofwhatmany reality and artificial intelligence, reality andartificial as sophisticatedrobotics, virtual technological advancements, such built. is these systemsthatthefourth capabilities. Itisonthebackof and thevast advances ofcomputing the development ofdigitalsystems communication, andthethirdwas distribution andwirelesswired second was theonsetofelectricity was tofossil theshift fuels, the The firstindustrialrevolution REVOLUTION? WHAT IS THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL 1 The 4IRistheonsetof 2
industrial revolutions. to bemetwiththesecondorthird people aroundtheworld have yet when you realisethatmany poor interesting, it’s moreconcerning technology soundsinnovative and production. Although new of forms and roboticallycontrolled a significantincreaseinautomation possibly even humanbodies, with be embeddedwithinsocietyand the 4IRposesand, undoubtedly, a numberofimmediaterisks that likely disadvantage many. There are everybody equally, andwillmost capitalist system, itwon’t benefit with mostadvancements within a make life easierfor people, but The 4IRhasthepotentialto 4IR? OF A WHATCONSEQUENCES ARETHE
IN THE COMMUNITY 51
December 2019/January 2020 Sasol emits 67-million tons of emissions Sasol’s carbon a year. annually are more than the entire country of Portugal, 20 September was a historical day 20 September was
THE CLIMATE STRIKES – THE CLIMATE 20 SEPTEMBER climate- On 20 September 2019, justice activists the world around againstgathered to protest inaction against climategovernment various Africa, In South change. sites ofactions took place at key the country the Union such as Legislature and Gauteng Buildings, also protestsThere were Parliament. sites of carbon capitalthat targeted andThe Co-operative such as Sasol. Center (COPAC) Alternative Policy and its allies chose to gather outside of the Sasol headquarters in Sandton to protest against air pollution which is and carbon capitalism, poisoning poor communities as well as contributing to climate change. fuel corporations such as SasolFossil and continue been, and others have let off the hook. to be, in the climate-justice movement for The action outside Sasol this country. had an attendance of around 450, while action the legislature outside and there were 1,000, had over varying numbers at other actions It must be all around the country. not anoted that 20 September was just it was culmination of actions; a catalyst that It was the beginning. must be used to build a strong and persistent climate-justice movement, where members of civil society are but not just responding to events about envisioning andare proactive society. carbon-free building a new, to Sasol The demands handed over were: 1. saying the opposite, or at least the opposite, saying of to look at ideas have that we very in and growth development in the contextthe of ways different climate crisis.
5 The 4 Finally, and arguably most and arguably Finally, climate crisis is already putting so according to the jobs at risk; many which would supposedly help which would catastrophic avoid humankind Geoengineering climate change. solutions or creates technofixes that technologies using man-made don’t actually reducing look at but rather idea that the emissions, out themselves humans can invent with thisThe risk of this crisis. to know is that there is no way effects of thesethe unforeseen there long term; technologies in the enough testinghas not been nearly done to guarantee its sustainability and safety. pertinent class of to the working job creation will be Africa, South willstunted and unemployment Job losses will not only increase. occur in so-called unskilled sectors, will stretch across industriesthey results. with devastating WHAT IS THE LINK BETWEEN CLIMATE THE LINK BETWEEN CLIMATE IS WHAT CHANGE AND THE FOURTH IR? The discussion about the 4IR is to the discussion aboutrelevant inherently, climate change because, trends are both these two about inequality and the further of the vulnerablemarginalisation climate At its core, in our society. justice is about justice and equality, both of which are threatened by as the 4IR. climate change as well is pushing While the government and more more development are climate-justice forces growth, International Labour Organization as of 2014, close to 1.2-billion jobs close as of 2014, are in industries that rely on natural making them directly thus processes, This climate change. threatened by constituted around 40% of all those In a world in the world. employed is already so precarious, where work with the onset of more automation, bigger threat the 4IR poses an even to the stability of the job market. the 4IR 3 Young protestor holding sign. Credit: Fatima Fatima Credit: protestor holding sign. Young Zahraa Bham When this is brought up, those When this is brought up, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-07-04-4ir-the-good-the-bad-and-the-inequality-gap/ https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2019-05-23-robots-climate-change-and-the-future-of-jobs/ https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-south-africa would only push us even higher up only push us even would more implicating us even that list, once again, in the climate crisis and, putting the poor in more immediate acceleratingdanger by climate change. of the shift to technology in favour geoengineering, for argue would 4 5 3 many more unforeseen risks. In an risks. more unforeseen many unequal society withalready very the rates, unemployment rocketing 4IR is not the solution to our woes; it will undoubtedly exacerbate that the them in the same way Most poor climate crisis is doing. Africa have communities in South little to no access to technological even wouldn’t so they infrastructure, of the 4IR advantage be able to take Installing new if it reached them. infrastructure cost the public would needed to while the energy more, will mean this revolution power an already for more extraction, In South highly polluting society. which is the 14th-highest Africa, carbon emitter in the world, IN THE COMMUNITY 52 2. 3. SA Labour Bulletin
process. intheshutdown they benefit for workerssupport toensure andclear polluting activities bycommunities affected its to South Africa, to reparations include climatedebtrepayments that setting outcleartimeframes planfromSasol just transition to shutdown. We demanda emissions target, Sasolwillhave Africa toachieve itsnetzero fuel corporations. For South oftop100fossil-Majors Report placing it45thontheCarbon transition now.transition for adeep,and necessary just energy ischeaper, moreeffective world. Sociallyowned renewable heating a solutioninrapidly when itisburned. This isnot andevenmaking theproduct coal, thecoal, whentransporting processofthe the extraction technofixes includecarbonin solution’ of ‘clean coal’. Such and theworld withthis ‘false from misleadingthecountry North West University desist We demandthatSasoland government onitsway out. climate debtto theMozambican carbon extraction, andpay its stop itsexpansion plansand cyclone devastation endured, Mozambican peoplefor the Sasol pay tothe reparations unacceptable. We demandthat Sasol’s carbon criminalityis possibility,change adistinct more cyclones linked toclimate Idai andKenneth, andwith having experienced cyclones billion. Mozambique With an estimatedcostofUS$1.4 facilityat an LPGproduction includes13wellsproject and existing petroleum facility. The adjacenttoits (LPG) project and liquefied petroleumgas to develop oil anintegrated investments planning further Inhambane province. Itis (2.6-trillion cubicfeet) in Mozambique’s gasfields Sasol isheavily invested in Vol 43Number 2and3 • • Africa andtheworld todemand: together withworkers inSouth everywhere.corporations 1 May 2020to#GridlockCarbon and theworld tostandwithuson #GridlockCarbon. to ongoing androllingaction institutions. Today of isthestart investors andgovernment all othercarboncorporations, planbut alsotoconfront transition assess progressonSasol’s just #GridlockCarbon on1May 2020: National andGlobalday to ofaction Finally, acallwas madefor a • • must ensure: government: attheSouth also directed African The following demandswere 4.
On 1May 2020, we willstand Hence, we callonSouth Africa We year willbebacknext to The South African government and coal; and coal; No new investments inoil, gas and prevent a1.5°Covershoot; realisation ofnetzeroemissions polluters, so we the accelerate and from allcarboncorporations Ambitious, plans justtransition the #ClimateJusticeCharter. demand thatParliament adopt most vulnerable. Hence, we of workers, thepoorand the must meettheneeds a transition beyond carboncapitalism. Such alternatives totake South Africa based ondemocratic-systemic a people-led, deep, justtransition corporations; Sasol, Eskom andotherfossil-fuel absorption fromtheshutdown of ensure decentwork andlabour the country. Suchplansmust systemsacross mass-transport South Africa andclean-energy owned renewable energy in the immediaterolloutofsocially target. achieve itsnetzeroemissions leave theUStoassist footprint. We demandthatSasol It isincreasingtheUScarbon chemicals complex intheUS. in theLake Charlespetro- Sasol isalsoheavily invested University. in HumanGeography Wits from change. She holds aBScHonours of climate racialised experiences inthe and interested gendered climate-justice activist,particularly isanecofeminist Morgan Courtney climate justiceisnow. time for and ajusttransition to theirmaterialconditions. The poor willseeatangibledifference through systemchangethatthe inoursociety.vulnerable Itisonly not lookvery brightfor themost crisis andthe4IR, thefuturedoes With oftheclimate theintersection growth; the4IRisnodifferent. almost never beneficiariesofthis and development, thepoorare case withothernotionsofgrowth inequality. Itisclearthat, asisthe ofthe4IRon what istheimpact within thebroaderquestionof climate science, lies butrather not lieinthetechnicaldetailsof the 4IRonclimatechangedoes of question ofwhatistheimpact expansion. The answer tothe that arenotrootedincapitalist policy alternativesat integrating communities, looking andtostart polluting andkillingthese communities asdisposable, tostop government, tostopseeingpoor withtheSouth partnership African corporations, suchasSasolin call for justice. A callfor These demandsareultimatelya • •
sooner. down tenyears inthenext or coal andgasindustriesareshut fossil-fuel reserves, andtheoil, including poorcountrieswith a problemthey didnotcreate, countries arecompensatedfor they haveharm caused, poor world acarbon debtfor the fossil-fuel pay corporations the Fuel Treaty’, whichensures The UNestablishan ‘End Fossil renewable-energy transitions; money tosociallyowned this industries andredirect subsidies fromfossil-fuel All governments towithdraw IN THE UNION 53
December 2019/January 2020 Unions of the Chemical Sector, the the Unions of the Chemical Sector, of the Construction, Federation Sector and the Wood Metal and of third one is the Federation SupportPrivate Services and and it has members Other Unions, The in Mauritius and Rodrigues. of the CTSP is twofold. work represent workers we Firstly, at the negotiation table after going through all the democratic processes of collecting workers’ This representation demands. is undertaken at the national and it includes organising, level for and advocating lobbying better wages, rights, workers’ and conditions, better working issues. other worker-related managed to create have We bargaining sectoral collective the constructionfor sector in partnership with the Building and Civil Engineering Contractors which is Association (BACECA), Our association. the employers’ sectoral bargaining goal is to have sectoral to have i.e. at all levels, in the tourism industry, bargaining manufacturing free-zone sector, services and finance sector, Even though the CTSP is though the CTSP is Even The CTSP has 20 affiliated order to change our name to the order to change our name to the des Travailleurs des Confédération In line Secteurs et Privé. Publiques have we with these developments, many also succeeded at moving from precarious jobs in workers sector to permanentthe private and pensionable jobs in the public managed to move have We sector. Mauritius Sports Council workers, pre- workers, Authority Tourism primary and secondary primary, previously sectors which were into sectors, considered as private public sectors. it is a young old, only ten years surroundedconfederation by persons. sincere and motivated Our motto is learning doing by remaining true to and always do a job we Either ourselves. don’t do it at all. or we perfectly, learn from the past to build We that know a better future and we can with unity and solidarity we succeed in creating this better future. unions and three federations, Trade of namely the Federation Confédération des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publiques et Publiques Secteurs des Travailleurs des Confédération
(CTSP) of Mauritius detail the formationdetail Mauritius of (CTSP) it has achievements and the union the of
ince its creation in 2002 ince its creation in 2002 under the name of Fron Sekter Privé Travayer
Youth members of the of members Youth Privé youth haveThey focus on the struggles the played a role in within this had in a decade. Employment (YEP) Programme Youth Mauritius the to highlight their opposition union and Exploitation – which provides employment Programme Youth – what they dubbed the experience to youth aged 16 to 35. In June 2008 the FTSP became In June 2008 the FTSP became
(FTSP), the Confédération des des the Confédération (FTSP), des Secteurs Publiques Travailleurs (CTSP) has been present et Privé struggle in every local where been have or foreigners workers missed never have We exploited. an opportunity better to aim for results through Workers the All Union Trade the Conference, the Conseil Common Platform, the Platform Kont des Syndicats, the Anti Travayer, La Loi Travay Council, Union Consultative Trade Privatisasyon the Platform Kont The vision of CTSP is: etc. Delo, individuals to aspire for to allow to empower a decent life; to have through education so that workers and, for decent jobs; can fight justice to achieve ultimately, all. for Travailleurs des the Confédération (CTSP) with three du Secteur Privé affiliatedfederations and several other unions such as standalone In unions. unions and federal amended our rules in 2017 we The Confédération des Travailleurs Travailleurs des Confédération The
des Secteurs Publiques et Privé Publiques des Secteurs S IN THE UNION 54 SA Labour Bulletin Trade Union Confederation). Union andthe ITUC(International International), IndustriALLGlobal and Woodworkers(Building with BWI through ouraffiliation contain asbestos. and builtanew becausethey households mustbedemolished people’swhere vulnerable instance, the3,113EDChouses from many publicbuildings. For before asbestosisremoved but muchstillneedstobedone asbestos bannedinthecountry etc. We succeededinhaving and accommodation, scaffolding, enforced, suchasnoise, lodging regulations thatneedtobe promulgated in2005andmany not beenreviewed sinceitwas and Safety Act 2005, whichhas law: theOccupationalHealth over theyears. We have amain produced many positive results field of healthandsafety has same playing field. oftheeconomyall sectors onthe workersto protect andtohave sectors. This isoneoftheways We alsoderive ourstrength inthe Our constantstruggle CTSP youthinaction. Credit: Tanya Veer and Ashnah Vol 43Number 2and3 FOR ALL. to achieve ourgoalofJUSTICE level.and international We strive forces in solidarityatthenational exploitative state, we mustunite the exploitative employer andthe at themoment. To fightagainst andunionsareconfuseddifficult and robotics. be taken over by digitalmachines 4.0wheremany jobswill Industry and now we have thechallengeof employment isanongoingone The battleagainstprecarious ethos. We have apresidentand always promoted agender-balance of ourmembers. by thephysical efforts constructed Hill market. The buildingwas on EliasRoad, behind theRose plot oflandincludingthehouse Bank ofMauritiusandbuya take aloanfromtheDevelopment and CMWEU), we were ableto of threeunions(PEEU, CMCTEU own building. With thesupport In 2008CTSPmanagedtogetits 2008 –CTSPBUILDING The struggle has becomemore The struggle In theconfederation, we have annual International annual International Youth day on education; the and celebrating Mauritius for fighting for afree ofthe 1975youththe activism of 20 May, wherewe commemorate annually on1May, LabourDay; ceremoniesheld commemoration intheworkers’participating the youth have beenactively 16 and35years old. Since2017, was createdfor theyouth between payments. land andproperty, asadvalorem putting uptheirassets, suchas of6.5%perannumwithout rate access toloansataninterest Union, whereourmembershave as People’s Cooperative Credit cooperative bank, whichisknown end poverty. We have createda Development Goalthataimsto is alignedwiththeSustainable leadership.a dictatorial in team-spiritleadershipinsteadof basis.time orpart-time We believe membersworkingstaff onafull- confederation. We alsohave 15 ofthea properfunctioning toensure secretary general In 2017, theyouth committee The CTSPmissionandvision IN THE UNION 55 December 2019/January 2020 In relation to this structure, In relation to this structure, Fifty percent of the refund, women) registered for YEP. Of Of YEP. for registered women) 11,891 10,089 men and these, as trainees placed in were women practical a one-year for companies were they However, placement. not guaranteed would that they be recruited on a permanent basis This concerned. the companies by people young meant that many streets on the themselves found after finishing their training rise to the which gives courses, young Many sharpest criticism. year, fired after one people were contract or at the end of their typically released. were they and its already stated outcomes, according to our confederation, ‘Youth the YEP stands for We Exploitation Programme’. critical been very always have YEP because in the end, YEP, of the problem of does not solve to the According unemployment. are employers trade unionists, YEP to use of taking advantage that will be dismissed ‘stop-gaps’ years. after two is paid directly which is statutory, Introducing and encouragingIntroducing smart trade unionism through of social media the application a and creating Facebook e.g. our members. for database part in a workshop Taking a by on public speaking and public speaker qualified health and occupational safety training occupational our by expert.health and safety and fight Helping to organise against atrocities inflicted on migrant workers. One of the biggest the year for achievements as a youth to have was 2019, president of the construction union. As of March 2019, 27,215 As of March 2019, • • • • THE YOUTHMAURITIUS EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME Youth Established in 2013 the Programme (YEP) Employment the ages between youth provides to of 16 and 35 with experience this However, help them find jobs. is not free of criticism programme, in Mauritius. and 16,568 (11,647 men youths Educating other youth in the in the Educating other youth about trade unions. universities campaigning and Actively the union for recruiting youth through the distribution of pamphlets around the island. Encouraging more involvement in the executive of youth committees of the unions. part in the several Taking campaigns such as the gender- based violence campaigns and Allied Namibian Metal and Union (MANWU) Workers’ struggle campaigns. Celebrating Youth Day with some of the CTSP youth members. Credit: Tanya Veer and Ashnah and Veer Tanya Credit: Day with some of the CTSP youth members. Youth Celebrating The youth committee has committee has The youth have youth The pledges that the become more active after a become more active in done that was workshop collaboration with IndustriAll In this Global Union in 2018. made several the youth workshop pledges. are: been able to accomplish • 12 August. The youth also actively also actively The youth August. 12 supported the 2017 hunger a battle against was which strike, women by work precarious in primary as cleaners working and secondary government schools. • • • IN THE UNION 56 SA Labour Bulletin complete their training. We also them to to encourage of service for andbetterconditions trainees same job. We want betterstipends even thoughbotharedoingthe way employees asthepermanent facilities inthesame use certain donot thatthetrainees suspect trainees’ working conditions. We authorities. ofthe more vigilanceonthepart money. To thisend, we want abuse attheexpense oftaxpayers’ ofthepossibilityfurther afraid thecompany.left We areeven havetrainees beenfiredorhave allowances even when the continue toreceive government We fear thatsomeemployers the otherhalfby theemployers. financed by thegovernment and that 50%ofthetrainee’s is salary contribution. Itshouldbenoted of thegovernment’s financial paying the50% themdirectly to receive taxreliefinsteadof employers trainees whorecruit YEP. We would have preferred with companies areconcerned by someemployers asnotall lead totherefundbeingabused to companiesandthiscould We alsowant areview ofthe CTSP youthinaction. Credit: Tanya Veer and Ashnah Vol 43Number 2and3 cause oftheyouth. YEP moreattractive andserve the redesign of YEP thatwillmake Thus, we want anin-depth us, it’s labour’.‘cheap intellectual replaced by new trainees. For position. They arefiredor forare notrecruited apermanent internship, several young people more, butthey receive apittance. staff,job aspermanent ifnot that young peopledothesame work. The mostshocking thingis speaks ofequalpay for equal Employment Rights Act, which clause20ofthe YEP contradicts We disputethis. According tous, that youth unemployment islow.’ YEP ismainlytomake believe our opinion, theexistence ofthe exploitation ofyoung people. ‘In denounce theshameless are backtounemployment. thatoneyearbasis andafter they onaone-yearon aninternship aremade clearthatthetrainees employment figures. Itmustbe when StatisticsMauritiuscompiles not beconsideredashaving ajob believe that shouldYEP trainees To thisend, we hopethat We their regretthatafter The youth oftheCTSP cry ofourconfederation whichis:cry the YEP.in for youth thevulnerable working by otheryoung people. 12months,after they arereplaced employees inafull-timejob, but is thattheyouth isworking like provides training. Ourconcern two years inthecompany that must staythat a trainee for at least thatstipulates demand acontract violates YEP regulations. We also large fine for any employer who also proposeajailsentenceor used tosubsidiseemployers. We ‘taxpayers’ money cannotbe look intofinancing YEPbecause jobs. We asktheauthoritiesto topermanent berecruited trainees theirtraining,requires thatafter employees. aspermanent salary It willreceivetrainees thesame are theare youth teamofCTSP. Noel Samynadas, Vicky Seeburrun Kheddo, Kumaren Kathan, Jean Ashnah Soomungull,Bheenasha Veer Gukhool, Tanya Murday, STRUGGLE CONTINUES’ ‘YOUTH TAKETHELEAD, Let usendby quotingthewar Therefore, ourbattlecontinues IN THE UNION 57 December 2019/January 2020 Precarious work is another issue Precarious work R12,500 per month as demanded African Federation the South by Unions (SAFTU) and Trade of the This is despite NUMSA. fact a multinational that Lear is good profits. that makes company of concern in Lear as more than at the plants half of the workforce Africa are temporaryin South no have They agency workers. pension or medical benefits. The amendments to the Labour Section 198) (LRA, Act Relations gives introduced in 2014, that were workers and workers fixed-term via labour brokers, employed the right to become permanent of the client companies on workers terms equal to permanent workers after three months of employment The and Englert 2019). (Webster Constitutional Court upheld this interpretation in July 2018 when it stated that the client becomes labour-broker of the sole employer after three months. employees
WORKING CONDITIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA Africa in South Shop stewards report significant problems conditions regarding the working and the violations of union rights of two at the three Lear plants, Elizabeth which are located in Port Different and one in East London. doing the same workers for wages is a source of significant work unhappiness among workers. only workers employed Newly the minimum as prescribed receive in the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) agreement, which amounted to R37.66 per are thus The wages hour in 2018. the legal minimum wage above Africa in 2018, introduced in South of the living wage but far below representation structure for This is Africa at Lear. Europe and treats its as the company strategic, Africa and Europe as operations in a single entity. report on the second workshop report on Carmen Ludwig and Kenneth Mogane
Elijah Chiwota, stewards of theAfrica between shop South that took place in July 2019 in East London, the EuropeanAfrica (NUMSA) and members of National Union of Metalworkers of South The aim of the meeting was to discuss ways to strengthen Council (EWC). Works Lear Corporation. transnational cooperation company, on the shop floor of the auto supplier n July 2019 shop stewards n July 2019 shop stewards from the National Union of Africa of South Metalworkers (NUMSA) and members of the Council (EWC) Works European came together in East London the second time to discuss for to strengthen transnational ways of cooperation on the shop floor Lear the auto supplier company, the tenth biggest Lear, Corporation. in the auto supplier industry player has its headquarters worldwide, manufactures in the United States, seating and electronic automotive about systems and employs The globally. 169,000 workers is a transnational ‘Lear network’ initiative worker-solidarity Lear and in the EWC informed by the German Industrial Union of (IG Metall).The EWC Metalworkers is the structurerepresents that from the different employees European countries where Lear has aims The Lear network operations. at establishing a joint employee-
Lear Corporation worker solidarity worker an African-European Building in network
Transnational Transnational I IN THE UNION 58 SA Labour Bulletin 2 1 Kellogg’s (US$47,000). (US$74,500), Ford (US$64,300) or median wage Motors ofGeneral at Learismuchlower thanthe thatthemedianwage demonstrates multinational companiesalso wage. The comparison withother evenearned below themedian that halfofLear’s workforce 2018. The medianwage means aboutUS$10,000for who earned a facilityoutsidetheUnitedStates identified asanhourly worker at At Lear, themedianemployee was employee makes atthecompany. to indicatewhatamiddle-tier the company. The medianisused the medianemployee at earned which is987timesmorethanwhat nearly US$10millionin2018, 2019, oneLearCEO, alone, earned in As theDetroitNews reported VALUE CHAINS WAGE INEQUALITIESINGLOBAL African continentarebased. over 13,000Learworkers onthe the network toMorocco, where toextend Metall hasalsostarted to prevent tothebottom. arace IG to improve working conditions and wages. The unionnetwork seeks was fromworkers’ deducted low thatthetime toilet withtheeffect to clockoutwhengoingthe plants, blue-collarworkers had For instance, atoneoftheLear unfair andunequaltreatment. violation ofunionrights, and shifts, healthandsafety issues, for workerstransport onnight timewithoutpay,short lackof workers includeextensive useof the LRA. 198of complied withSection So far, Learhasonlypartly benefits. the plantsinSouthAfricaare agencyworkers.Theyhavenopensionormedical temporary Precarious inLearasmore workisanother issueofconcern thanhalfoftheworkforce at
https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/2019/04/15/top-michigan-ceos-300-times-more-than-employees/3350820002/ Vol. 9(2), (3)and Vol. 10(2) unionspowerSee amoredetailed reflection ontrade resources Ludwig, Schmalz, Webster 2019andthedebatein GlobalLabourJournal Other issues that put strain on Other issuesthatputstrain Vol 43Number 2and3 1
being played againsteach other. as aresult, workers facetheriskof increasing pressureonwages, and invalue chainsput strategies why competition andcost-saving supplier, includingwages. This is controllablebyare directly the 20%, coststhat aretheproduction bydirectly theOEM. The rest, material coststhataredecided supplier’s costsare production approximately 80%ofafirst-tier hasshown,research intheproject players prices. whocandictate As chain, theOEMsaredominant projects. Within theautovalue to provide cheaperquotesfor new and forces componentsuppliers oftheiroperations outsources parts Mercedes-Benz, whichincreasingly the problemlieswithOEMslike workers. clearly createdattheexpense of margins ofsuppliersandOEMsare rough comparisonsshow thatprofit at VolkswagenSouth Africa.in The of thewage oftheircounterparts wages lessthanhalf of R58.62earn workers atLearwiththehigher (OEMs) andsuppliers. Even those original equipmentmanufacturers wages differ significantlybetween taken intoaccount. Furthermore, differences inthecostoflivingare remain evenand benefits when Morocco. Starkinequalitiesinwages times asmuchemployees in andmorethanten counterparts same work as theirSouth African about five timesasmuch for the plants inGermany, employees earn value chains.transnational At Lear unequal labourstandardswithin withregardto transparency and IGMetallalsohelptocreate In the broader picture, part of In thebroaderpicture, of part Workshops like thoseby NUMSA to use, influence orchangethe unions the possibilitiesoftrade network inLear. the African-European supports IndustriALL GlobalUnion, As aglobalunionfederation, experiences andstrategies. unions exchange organising project, IGMetallandtheirpartner worker organisations. IntheLear workers and build unitingtoform Associational power arisesfrom power oflabourtransnationally. associational andinstitutional the aimed atstrengthening directions.’ and for amutualexchange inboth is thebasisofgoodcooperation increases trust. gained The trust know eachotherintensively, which toget istheopportunity aspect the company. positiveA further specifically abouttheproblemsin totalkvery us theopportunity inSouth our comrades Africa gave emphasises ‘the exchange with relationships. As anEWC member andstable cooperation term level helpstoestablishlong- Active attheplant participation level.is anchoredatgrass-roots workensure thattransnational influence ontheirdesignand company, whothushave adecisive out by unionmembersatthe areinitiatedandcarried projects and resourcestothesenetworks, While IGMetallprovides support networks.based trade-union and aimsatbuildingcompany- 2018 inFebruary programme ofIGMetall’sas part transnational The Learnetwork was established POWER OFLABOUR INCREASING THETRANSNATIONAL Institutional power refers to So far, theLearnetwork has IN THE UNION 59 December 2019/January 2020 Despite attempts by Lear Lear Despite attempts by Elijah Chiwota is a communications and research officer with IndustriALL Global Africa Sub-Saharan Union in the office. regional Carmen Ludwig is a postdoctoral at Giessen University, researcher associate and a research Germany and Politics Work Society, at the University at the Institute (SWOP) is part Witwatersrand. She of the of projectIG Metall’s team on Lear. regional Mogane is a Kenneth metal, for the officer responsible sectorsauto, energy and chemical IndustriALL at the Sub-Saharan Africa office. regional labour laws. This is why the the This is why labour laws. union network European-African support also received in Lear has and Global Union from IndustriALL Ebertthe Friedrich Foundation. management to obstruct the representatives worker interactions, remained Africa in Europe and This demonstrates that united. transnational collaboration be can for an important of power source to counteract the divisions workers chains. created in global value and African the like Networks allow at Lear European network and to share experiences workers Through exchange information. in workers solidarity, collective Africa get information from South and their colleagues on the wages conditions in Europe and working seeks The Lear network vice versa. local struggles to support workers’ conditions and better working for associational to build workers’ true to the globally, power and ‘working slogan company’s winning together as one Lear’. To achieve these aims, these aims, achieve To unions including IndustriALL unions including IndustriALL are negotiated They Global Union. global trade union between and multinational federations companies and seek to protect interests across global workers’ operations of irrespective have GFAs national legislations. already been established in other multinational companies in the BMW, VW, including auto industry, Daimler and Ford. transnational collaboration among and trade representatives worker Transnational unions is key. corporations control about 80% the general Thus, trade. of world relations between unequal power labour and capital are further increased at the transnational level. worker between Strong networks and unions is one representatives strategies in of the most effective confronting a global capital that cheap labour, seeks to exploit especially in countries with weak
2 Participants in the workshop. Credit: Carmen Ludwig Credit: in the workshop. Participants A further step is the References: Published online Globalizations, East Rand to Ekurhuleni, Africa’s from South or end of labour?: dawn Englert New (2019): Webster/Thomas Edward 23 Aug 2019. Labour Journal Global 9 (2): and Challenges, Developments Approach: Resources The Power (2018): Webster Carmen Ludwig/Stefan Schmalz/Edward 113-134. institutional and legal framework. Within Lear’s operational division, operational division, Lear’s Within are one-third of employees in European countries employed Africa and, outside the EU or in in no voice have they as yet, the EWC However, the EWC. referring seeks to change this, to the possibilities presented Council Works the European by It stipulates that employee law. from non-EU representatives be included in the countries may More than 70 transnational EWC. already reacted companies have to this and adapted their EWC not least agreements accordingly, on account of the consequences – the United Kingdom’s of Brexit pulling out of the European Union. establishment of a Global at Agreement (GFA) Framework that particularly, to ensure, Lear, union rights and basic labour standards are respected globally. global are promoted by GFAs IN THE UNION 60 SA Labour Bulletin 1 andits special factory learning Second, itwill presentone ingeneral. factories learning First, itdefinesand describes teaching, andresearch. learning environments thatcanbeusedin asuniquelearning factories education needstoconvey. knowledge orcompetencies and professions andwhatskills, we work, how we define work technologies butalsotheway of work. They willnotonlyalter allkindsandsectors will affect doors ofindustrialplants, butthey willnotstopatthe of transition changes. However, theseprocesses isexperiencing massive industry discussed.manufacturing The of thebuzzwords thatarewidely areonlysome robot collaboration intelligence,artificial and human- systems, crosslinkingofdata, world rightnow. Cyber-physical is oneveryone’s lipsallover the Industrial RevolutionThe Fourth 1. INTRODUCTION digitalisation of work Learning factories in the Some are also in the hands of consulting firms orbigindustrialcompanies (Hammer2014; Somearealsointhe handsofconsultingfirms e.g. &Stäudel 2014) Herrmann This article introduces learning introduceslearning This article Germany and the interdisciplinary Master’s andtheinterdisciplinary Germany inmechanical engineeringandsocialsciences. ontwoexamples:the authorsdraw theLearning andResearchFactory inBochum, opportunitiesthantraditionalteachingmethodssuchaslectures.application To elaborate, enable practical, leadstohigherlevelsofretentionand hands-onexperiencesthat can be used in teaching,environments that learning and research. Learning factories Anna Conrad and Vol 43Number 2and3 focus on learning factories as unique learning Manfred Wannöffel focus on learning factories as unique learning conducted in this learning factory. inthislearning conducted thatare deal withspecificprojects in detail.characteristics Third, it will or teaching as well as a production or teachingaswell asaproduction That meansthey includelearning of theterm’ (Abeleetal. 2015: 2). ‘systems thataddressbothparts have incommonisthatthey are alignments. However, whatthey many different shapes, sizesand new wave (ibid.). ofthis factory implement alearning was oneofthefirstto Darmstadt) Machine Tools (Technical University Management Technology and In 2007theInstituteofProduction universities, especiallyinEurope. spread moreandmore, mostlyat years, have factories learning USA (Abeleetal. 2015: 2). Inrecent Science Foundation (NSF) in the University, awarded by theNational ledby Penn at aconsortium State first presentedandcoinedin1994 The term factory’ ‘learning was 2.FACTORIES? WHATLEARNING ARE Learning factories appear in appearin factories Learning operated by academicinstitutions operated approach’ (Abele2015: 3). inanon-sitelearning actions evaluate, andreflect their own canperform, in whichparticipants value chainfor aphysical product (Abele 2015). It ‘provides areal multilinked value-added chains or workplaces buttowholesome offer accesstosinglemachines sitesandcannotonly production realistic environment mirrors (Cachay etal. 2012). The learning teaching methodssuchaslectures thantraditional opportunities levels ofretentionandapplication on experiences thatleadtohigher enablepractical,factories hands- environment (ibid.). Learning etc. (cf. Tisch etal. 2015). cyber-physicalsystems production executionmanufacturing systems, resource efficiency, automation, technological issuessuchasrobotics, Therefore, focus they often on specifically, by engineeringfaculties. (e.g. Hummeletal. 2014) and, more Most learning factories are are factories Most learning 1
IN THE UNION 61 December 2019/January 2020 In the second semester, the In the second semester, the course of this seminar, Over leadership, change management. change management. leadership, in the learningPractical exercises factory rather complement these of Two methods. classical teaching on games focus these simulation problemsorganisational-technical the dissatisfaction the of like insidecustomer or a bottleneck other exercises Two production. factor at the put the employee deal with change incentre and they management and co-determination the simulation games, During rights. the participants on the roles of take actorsdifferent inside a company council, works such as management, combinationThis store. assembly, of theoretical and practical competencies leads to longer-lasting learning effects and is assessed in a et al. midterm (Cachay examination 2012). students form interdisciplinary people and to four teams of two in regional spend it working the with Together companies. councils of these companies, works decide on specific projectsthey the rest of on them for and work These projects all the semester. for directions: different go in very one team has developed example, a kindergartena concept for within another has worked the company, on a tool to synchronise the language of engineers and shop- workers. floor both groups of students learn to their horizons and see beyond are familiarised with the other Social science students perspective. like looks what work experience learn in a manufacturing company, about production models and other Engineering technological issues. students get an understanding of importance and expertisethe role, One representatives. of workers’ that of this seminar is achievement already meet infuture professionals and not at their workplace university fear Therefore, the first time. for of contact or prejudices can be addressed and reduced. Interdisciplinary teaching students Master’s for The first semester consists of Two examples of what this examples Two 3.1 example of interdisciplinaryThe first the Master’s teaching is addressed by in mechanical engineering and social developed The course was sciences. in 2011 and has been a permanent part of the study programme since ‘Management Under the title then. (MAO), of Labour’ and Organisation students from both faculties learn about questions of arrangements while and management of work thegetting an understanding for participation and role of workers’ social partnership at plant level. (2015) assume that al. et Wagner there is a gap in the university education of industrial engineers ‘mostly neglects the training as it and of social-communicative These (117). interdisciplinary skills’ skills are especially important in the context of increasingly changing from externaldemands emerging circumstances such as global short production cycles, competition, Increasing legal requirements. of and complexity flexibility production systems causes higher on all employees requirements for MAO 2015). et al. (Wagner levels tries to contribute to closing this in thegap and is a unique offering landscape of German universities. theoretical lectures on different the system topics such as labour law, Industry 4.0, of industrial relations, plant level (so-called ‘works councils’ councils’ ‘works (so-called plant level in Germany) or trade unionists or as university are trained as well The interdisciplinary PhD students. enables participantsapproach and their field to see beyond (1) visitors: new (2) to experience of expertise, applicationstechnologies and their exchange (3) to firsthand, to and (4) or worries, experiences in get answers ask questions and to a neutral space. interdisciplinary in the LPS teaching learning factory and research can will be presented below. look like THE LEARNING AND RESEARCH GERMANY IN BOCHUM, FACTORY The LPS learning and research factory uses a socio-technical That means it considers approach. the triangle of technology – – personnel (TOP) organisation and understands all actors as In training and interconnected. participants are always teaching, confronted with questions of technological possibilities and as of howpracticability as well and these will affect human workers in and the organisation employees This special strategy allows general. groups. an extension of target for In the LPS learning research and on representatives workers’ factory, 3. 3. The LPS learning and research factory founded in Bochum was is runin 2009 and the Chair by of Production Systems (LPS) of Mechanicalof the Faculty Engineering at Ruhr-University Since Germany. Bochum (RUB), several it has developed then, process optimisation, areas: focus resource lean management, efficiency and but also management in the context of work organisation of transformation (Wagner processes areaThis latter focus 2015). et al. because of a close mainly evolved cooperation of theand extensive LPS and the Office of Cooperation Industrial Metall (Engl: RUB/IG a central Union of Metalworkers), that belongsinstitution at RUB of socialto the academic field This cooperation combines sciences. competencies and expertise from a more sides and allows different the issues on holistic perspective surrounding the transformation It is due to the character of work. as a full-scale university of RUB could develop. that this network it is in the Ruhr Additionally, Area – a former coal and steel the industry site – and therefore, is traditionally closelyuniversity works connected unions, to strong ideas rights and workers’ councils, of industrial citizenship (Marshall 1963). IN THE UNION 62 SA Labour Bulletin Wagner, P., Prinz, C., Wannöffel, M., Kreimeier, D. (2015). for management, Factory ‘Learning organization andworkers’ participation’, ProcediaCIRP(32):115–1 Domain’,Manufacturing Turkish ofEducational Online Journal Technology, Special Issue(2): 356-363. Tisch, M., Ranz, F., Abele, E. et al. (2015). of anInnovative Morphology–StudyofForm andStructure Factory ‘Learning Learning Approach inthe 4.0’, (9): ProcediaManufacturing 354–360. Reuter, M., Oberc, H., Wannöffel, M., Kreimeier, D. (2017). factories’‘Learning asanenablerofproactive trainings workers’ regardingIndustrie participation Marshall, T. H. ‘Citizenship andSocialClass’, in: T. H. Marshall: SociologyattheCrossroadsandotherEssays, London, 1963, 67-127. 15. Tage desBetriebs- undSystemingenieurs(TBI ‘14), Technische Universität Chemnitz, 6.-7. November 2014, 525–535. Factory].Learning Proceedings Hummel, V., Schuhmacher, J., &Ranz, F. (2014). „Kollaborative Arbeitssysteme inderESBLogistik-Lernfabrik’. [Collaborative work systemsintheESBlogistics Stockholm, 28.05.2014., 1–18. Herrmann, S., &Stäudel, T. (2014). andexperience ‘Learn Factory’,VPS intheBMWLearning Proceedingsofthe4thConferenceFactories. on Learning CIRP General Assembly, Nantes, France. Hammer, M. (2014). successfulwithexperiential learning’, transformations ‘Making operational CIRP. CIRP Collaborative Working Factories, GrouponLearning Sciences (55): 1144–1153. Cachay, J., Wennemer, J., Abele, E., Tenberg, R. (2012). approach’, Factory withaLearning learning ‘Study on action-oriented Procedia–SocialandBehavioral Abele, E., Metternich, J., Tisch, M. etal. (2015). Factories for‘Learning research, education, andtraining’, ProcediaCIRP(32): 1-6. References: competitiveness strengthening industrial value by inGermany wereproject ‘to ensurehigh-level sustainability oftheprojects. and theefficiency – strengthening representatives andthemanagement agreements between theworkers’ projects, whichwere basedon company ofcorporate and support second elementwas theconsultation andresearchfactory.learning The of whichtookplaceintheLPS consisting offive modules, one aqualificationseries conducting elements: first, designingand WorksConstitution Act. law –the co-determination German of technologiesprovided by the development andimplementation influenceonthedesign,exert to recognisetheirpossibilities enabling workers’ representatives perspective. aimedat The project conditions fromtheemployees’ changes onwork andemployment andfuture ofcurrent impacts The conceptfocuses onvarious an innovative concept. didactic IGM) andIGMetalldeveloped ofCooperation RUB/ and Office fromRUB (LPS partners project Innovation’) (2016–2019), two shaping future’ (orig. ‘Arbeit und Innovation: skills, strengthening qualification project ‘Work and In thecooperative researchand 3.2 Overall, theobjectives ofthe hadtwo The project core representatives education for workers’ further Interdisciplinary Vol 43Number 2and3 change by proactively protecting change by proactively protecting to considerthemselves enablersof workers’encourages representatives its designandimplementation. This but thatpeoplecanactively shape neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’ ingeneral, assumption thattechnologyis Thus, stressesthe thetraining evaluate theminrepeatedcycles. types ofassistancesystemsand outdifferent cantry Participants between peopleandtechnology. assistance systemsastheinterface three days, theexercises focused on IndustrialRevolutionFourth in ofthe discussed inthecontext possible todealwitheverything Reuter etal. 2017). Sinceitisnot as well aspossiblerisks(cf. increasing digitalisationcanoffer toseechancesthat participants exercisespractical enablethe sessions, theoreticalinputand the workforce oftheirenterprises. themselvesdecisions concerning and working in conditions andparticipate participants’ abilitytoshapefuture the aimed atstrengthening course oftwo years. tookplaceoverGermany the 100 companiesfromallover fromoverthan 300participants 20 qualificationserieswithmore (Reuter etal. 2017: 356). Around oncompany level’structures sustainable personneldevelopment conditions aswell asestablishing employment andfairworking and innovations throughsecure During the three-day training During thethree-day training modules factory The learning technological change. workers’ interestswhenitcomesto changing working world. the chancesandchallengesof sustainable andeffective handlingof a qualifiesrange ofactors for awide workers’ representatives. Thereby, it different disciplinesaswell as engineers butalsostudentsfrom managersor does notonlytrain andresearchfactory LPS learning intothetraining.participants The awidervariety of integrate complex changesaheadandcan a moreholisticperspective onthe Revolution isachieved. This enables Industrial approach totheFourth Bochum, Germany, asocio-technical in andresearchfactory learning intheLPS training and conducting involved to thepartners indesigning thatisuniqueinitskind. factory Due andonespecificlearning general in factories concept oflearning This paperbrieflypresentedthe 4. CONCLUSION Metall). Union(IG Metalworkers’ Industrial andtheRuhr-University German of the OfficeofCooperation between Prof. Wannöffel Manfred is director Union(IGMetall). Metalworkers’ and the GermanIndustrial Cooperation betweenRuhr-University of scientific assistantatthe Office BochumUniversity asa andworks and SocialScienceatRuhr- Anna Conradhas studiedEnglish IN THE UNION 63 has clearly has clearly The Rise of December 2019/January 2020 For innovators everywhere, the the everywhere, innovators For the Network Society, unpacked this phenomenon. Key Key this phenomenon. unpacked global economic governance the at the time were drivers WIPO and WTO formation of the which led to in the early 1990s, deregulation and shaped massive economic and social policies economies for of developing the early dial up to From years. web the new to iPods, Web.2.0, Wikis of 3.0 social media world tool a daily interactive are now and private in the professional This hundreds of millions. for life demands economy knowledge spurred tools and models new such as software-as-a-service enabling outsourcing and models; all and micro-work, offshoring, of rapid within the framework deregulation and competition at pyramid’. ‘bottom of the the rise of the open source movement brought in the prosumerisation applications from web of new design to FOSS and open source (ICT), software development, development, software (ICT), and of telecoms, convergence mass miniaturisation of consumer to smart cars). goods (from iPods ‘information of the The advent Manuel theorised by society’, trilogy – Castells’s unpacked unpacked The Coming of The 1990s had seen the most The 1990s had seen the most In the 1970s, sociologist Daniel In the 1970s, the transition to industrial society academic primer in a key and was understandingsetting the scene for mega shifts in techno-industrial technological of new waves that drastically developments and organisation altered work modes of New labour relations. such as just-in-time investment (JIT) manufacturing and flexible especially in low-wage production, required to meet Asia were East consumerisation of consumer This changed the way electronics. organised, was production and work the waves setting the scene for of outsourcing and multitudes of consumer electronics that featured in the post-industrial economies and society of the 1990s. modes of technocentric- intensive globalisation in history driven information and by – driven communication technologies Post-Industrial Society Fordism), that spurred employment Fordism), and demand in the leading This led to northern economies. a sustained consumer boom and a permanent urban-middle class that sustained these post-WWII decades. many economies for classic book Bell’s
he current robust debate with regard to regulating and licensing Uber and
argues that as South African policymakers, regulators owner/driversand policymakers, African thatargues Patel Ashraf South as App ever economy becomes of the the dark side grapple with the Uber phenomenon, more apparent and make social demands for decent as drivers face enormous pressures employeeswork and recognition for being Uber. of It was after World War II, that II, War World after It was sociologist Karl Polanyi renowned ‘great introduced the concept of the – a term used to transformations’ describe the post-reconstruction Japan and the period of Europe, US that led to the social expansion rapid of the middle class, and byways highways urbanisation, as industrial production units of multinational corporations (i.e. THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSFORMATION THE GREAT KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY and social justice and social economy: implication for labour, fair tax fair labour, for implication economy: The Uber platform and the app and the platform Uber The
social media behemoths such has as Google and Facebook, spurred and relevant interesting debates among policymakers Apart from their and regulators. face they strategies, tax-evasion regulatorsthe scrutiny of many concerned with fair competition The latest and social impact. by US$2.7-billion fine of Google the EU competition commissioner latest and the City of London’s and Transport formal ruling its by departmentsEmployment have put the mega platform and app – with on the back foot economy increased critical dialogue of its business models. existing T IN THE UNION 64 SA Labour Bulletin workers inthegigeconomy. thousandsof could soonaffect intheUnitedKingdom ruling court established Pittsburgh facility, a are beingsoughtattherecently of self-drivingcartechnologies the iceberg. While developments This, however, isjustthetipof reinstate thedealstillgoeson. the disputeofwhetherornotto active cities, inotherGerman and even thoughthecompany was beingbannedinBerlin,service prevail. April 2014saw theUber growth ofthisbusiness, challenges rapid Despite thespectacularly field.others inthetransportation even serves asacompetitorfor their passengersanddrivers, and undoubtedly agreatmatchfor technology,with itsmodern independent jobopportunity employees aflexible and well astaxidriverswhorefer toUbertransportersas‘piratetaxis’. globe, butasUbergrows internationally, as itslegalityisbeingchallenged bygovernment hasbeen madeavailableinawhopping66countriesand507citiesacrossThe service the taxis’.‘pirate as who refer toUbertransporters government aswell astaxidrivers legality isbeingchallengedby as Ubergrows internationally, its 507 citiesacrosstheglobe, but in awhopping66countriesand hasbeenmadeavailableservice rides sinceMarch2009. The offering reliableandaffordable network companytransportation has becomeaworldwide online notorious, Uberapplication, in California, thefamous, ifnot Technologies, headquartered Created by American Uber LABOUR UBER AND artists, andprosumersglobally. of micro-innovators, writers, impetus tohundredsofthousands applications have given great open contentandknowledge hardware. Indeed, opensource, This comes after anemployment This comesafter offers their Uber further Vol 43Number 2and3 to enjoy the perksthatgowithit. employeesrecognised asstaff and from cyclists whodemandtobe facinglegalaction the services arealreadyamong courier firms employer policies. insurance Four million perannumintaxlossesand in astupendouscostof£314 classified asself-employed, resulting national workers couldfalselybe is suggestedthatupto460,000 to researchby Citizens Advice, it their working practices. According forfacing scrutiny of inspection resulted incompaniesofthelike the ruling. has This declaration company readilyappealedagainst ‘self-employed’ even thoughthe its righttoclassifyUKdrivers as This immediatelystripsUberof fund andotherworking rights. entitled toleave pay, apension living wage’ inadditiontobeing and shouldbepaidthe ‘national are notself-employed individuals declaredthatUberdrivers court of 25. obliged topay workers over theage hour thatemployers areusually ofUS$7.20per the standardrate per hour–thisbeinglower than that hewould make often justUS$5 pickup. Furthermore, itwas stated company ifhewere to cancela ‘repercussions’ for occurring the as ‘tremendous pressure’ and described conditions whichFarrar theissueofworkingwhile raising and were notself-employed, by firm theSanFrancisco-based argued thatthey were employed of nineteenUberworkers who Aslam recentlyrepresentedagroup earnings. and JamesFarrar Yaseen commission fromtheemployee’s receives astipulatedamountas approach whereby theservice The Uber ruling could,The Uberruling according The Guardian , consideran innovation policy. (4IR), knowledge economy and Revolution Industrial Fourth policy, theand environmental media policy social regulation, with afocus ondigital andICT and developmentresearcher Ashraf Patel isa publicpolicy battles have justbegun. in theglobalisedeconomy. These equity, socialjusticeandsolidarity inour benefits own quest for for health, pensionandother rights, socialwages andtheneed with therealeconomy ofworker economy, virtual century clashes capital andlabourina21st dynamism –whichsucksuplocal apparent astheSchumpeterian app economy becomesever more phenomenon, thedarksideof withthe Uber grapple regulators andowner/drivers be theirown boss.’ they want tobeself-employed and drive withUberpreciselybecause of thousandspeopleinLondon process. reports: JoBertram ‘Tens be calculatedattheendof Payments duetodrivers willonly decision intheSupremeCourt. can beexpectedfollowing its hearings appeal tribunalandfurther to beescalatedtheemployment the processfor Uber. The caseisset case issimplynotanoption.’ false self-employment, takingsucha end ofinsecurework, suchasin atthesharp many peoplestruggling chief executive, GillianGuy. ‘For costly process,’ saidCitizens Advice complicatedand is anextremely that proving employment status drivers areself-employed shows tribunal todecidewhetherthese As South African policymakers, This isnot, however, theendof ittakes‘The fact anemployment ACROSS THE GLOBE 65 December 2019/January 2020 economic activity virtually that they of that sector. ‘brain’ become the else – activitiesAnd everything and the physical are then like actors, which completely gets body, If this ‘brain’. the controlled by So, it is indeed. scary, looks very try from it. to find an escape let’s let’s with the Uber example, Staying accept Uber drivers provisionally They as independent contractors. get into a contract Uber that with them with commuters, provides this serviceand for are charges Well, about one quarter of the fare. real asset fair enough! But Uber’s is not connection forming and the It is the detailed from it. brokerage intelligence that it builds about a which and people, its drivers town, is systematically and continually collectedis it of Much accumulated. and their cars. through the drivers The deteriorating incomes and conditions of Uber drivers work are sought to be addressed by and declaring them as drivers as not independent contractors, courtsdone by countries. in some and I understand the reasoning, more the moral concern, even great sympathy and have behind it, are Uber drivers, But really, it. for capital goods, their own owning soon small If so, workers? manufacturers will also be like as e-commerce companies workers, thoroughly and minutely dictate and when, how produce, what they almost entirely supplanting the This is agency. own manufacturer’s platform New already happening. based on continuously companies, develop collected granular data, such end-to-end digital intelligence aspect sector’s of any about every
s a digital society and two over, takes economy themes get most discussed
The following article was a keynote speech on 17 June 2019 for the thematic2019 for June 17 on speech keynote was a panel followingThe article organised by the International Organization Labour (ILO) on technological pathways Singh proposes that there is a need for . for decent work by Parminder Jeet Singh collective ownership of data for the production by those workers who are responsible If data is collectively owned decent work can be then workers. like Uber of data, https://www.youtube. See our interview on with Parminder guaranteed in the digital age. com/watch?v=8B6QbNJgLDs shared and distributed and distributed shared ownership A sharing and distributed and distributed A sharing a economy with the digital age the digital Ensuring decent work in work decent Ensuring
regarding its impact on workers. regarding its impact on workers. which is These are automation, and the ever jobs, also destroying greater informalisation of the through what has been workforce called Uberisation of the economy. importantThese very themes are to get much airtimeexpected and I not discuss them. therefore would like I would But more importantly, them because these to go beyond address post factothemes largely and impacts of the digital economy, My not its basic structural nature. are to main submission is that if we really protect and promote workers’ need to go to the heart we rights, and is, of what a digital economy in the role of capital and workers the Uber example. Let us take it. A ACROSS THE GLOBE 66 SA Labour Bulletin intelligence, whichthecapital really andfully own allsuch digital again, ask: companies doplatform value chainsinevery area. We may, increasingly occupiesthetop of described asdigitalcapital – intelligence –whichcanbe it. Ownershipofsuchsectoral based intelligenceembeddedin data- because ofconsiderable in many ways moreconvenient, Itischeaper,an intelligentservice? digital economy. So, isan Uber ride inthe what situatesthisactivity data-based intelligence. This is embedded initisconsiderable asaproduct,much aservice and the mostconvenient time, isas delivered toyour house, atjust andservices.products A book processes, andintelligence It ismarked by intelligentwork is aboutintelligentproduction. mass production, digitalrevolution If industrialrevolution was about being declaredasworkers ofUber. thanjust digital economy rather inclusioninthe route torightful Drivers mightmuchprefer this initsmanagement.to participate by thatrightthey shouldbeable anddefined,be determined and means ofwhichwould needto and –theextent the Uberplatform could justifycabdrivers co-owning intelligence derived fromit. This key assetofUber: itsdataandthe contributors –have astake inthe cab drivers –asthemaindata different. A casecanbemadethat coming fromcabsisnotmuch ofsuchdata?Data of generation provider ortheowner ofpoint/s data, whethertheapplication of own theInternet Things (IoT) questionsaboutwhoshould raised Some EUpolicydocumentshave between Uber andthedrivers. of Uberwas never ofthedeal part ever growing, ‘intelligence asset’ Contributing tothismain, and intelligence thatitprovides? value ofsuchdata, andthedigital owns thecumulative economic One mightask: wholegitimately WHO OWNS THE DATA? Vol 43Number 2and3 and informalised thanever.and informalised they might bemoredistributed who survive automation, even as closely controlandmanagethose develop thedigitalintelligence to replaces them. And itisusedto used tobuildtheautomationthat data contributedby workers gets from it. Even moreimportantly, made fromprofits proportionately about it, andbenefitting intelligence –makingco-decisions value ofdataanddigital ownership over thecumulative therefore, isthroughcollective datacontribution,and remunerate debates. The onlyway toprice iswellfact known inprivacy not feel theimmediatecost. This her datacontribution, asshedoes the worker appropriatelyprice value isvery high. Neithercan low. However, data’s cumulative of remuneration, isrelatively quite beabasis which couldnormally marginal value ofcontributeddata, labour tophysical production. The is quiteunlike thatofphysical contribution todigitalintelligence it is, howData’s isitremunerated? labour?Evenand/or intellectual if work contract, orjustthephysical ofthe data contributionapart problems withthisargument. Is the employer. There aremany from theworkplace belongsto with Uber), allthedatacoming owns theworkplace (unlike claimed thatsincetheemployer proper, say inafactory, itmay be economy. Comingtoworkers question oftheemerging digital politicaleconomy is thecentral ownership stake init? That, tome, behind suchintelligencehave an data contribute theall-important Or, dothe ‘points’ that andactors market values attrillionsofdollars? employed. And they shouldbe intelligence arising fromit, are how suchdata, andthedigital therefore, have arightto know Data-contributing workers, OWNERSHIP OFDATA THE IMPORTANCE OFCOLLECTIVE simple either. the centre of production,wasnot they respectively cametobeat property,and intellectual when assets ofland, industrialcapital political economy aroundthe sounds complex, remember that or ownership oftheirdata. Ifthis economic rightsover theirdata, case ismadefor theirunalienable to workplace data, whereby a situation ofworkers withrespect argument tothe canbeextended contract? As discussed, thesame cannot betaken away by private economic rightstotheirdata, that disadvantage? Shouldthey nothave goingtobeusedtheir certainly that,platforms interalia, isalmost alienating –suchdatatorespective drivers becontributing–andfully their contract, shouldsellersand if madearequirementunder itsultimateaim.is certainly Even network ofdriverless cars, which replace them, asUbermastersa their disadvantage, and(2)intime, control andmanagethem, to often can, andwill, beusedbothto(1) data contributedby Uberdrivers sellers on Amazon platforms, the private contract. Similarly, aswith ofamutual subjects than ordinary this thatmakes them ‘rights’ rather their rightsunderpubliclaw. Itis away whatmay beconsideredas employees cannotbemadetosign contracts, wherepotential valid. This isakintoemployment maya private contract nothold of power between thetwo parties, interms too greatanasymmetry consequence, andwherethereis In suchacaseofpossibleharmful developing competingproducts. tothesellers,harmful like Amazon data inamannerthatcouldbe topossibleuseofsuch pertains related tosellers’ datawith Amazon work contract? The EUinvestigation ofthe by themasapart generated made tosignaway rightstodata oreven remuneration just otherwise be eithersimplyprovided one-time control suchuses. Butcanworkers –own and able to–atleastpartly ACROSS THE GLOBE 67 December 2019/January 2020 Ukulandisa okulandelayo bekuyinkulumo ephambili yomhlaka 17 kuJuni 2019 kwiphaneli ehlelwe yi-International Labour Organisation (ILO) maqondana nentuthuko yezobuchwepheshe kanye nokwakha imisebenzi enesithunzi eyathulwa U-Singh Jeet Singh. nguParminder uphakamisa ukuthi kufanele kube nokuphatha ngokubambisana kwe-datha ngabasebenzi abayikhiqizayo abafana nabasebenzi be-uber. Uma idatha ingagcinwa ngokubambisana imisebenzi engcono ingadalwa kule nkathi yethu no Ungabuka ingxoxo yedijithali. ku https://www.youtube.com/ Parminder watch?v=8B6QbNJgLDs Ukukhiqizwa Ukukhiqizwa kwemisebenzi ngalesi eyanele sedijithali sikhathi ozuzisa Umnotho wonke umuntu, okuzokwenza wonke asebenze ukuthi umuntu ngokubambisana
Whether, and when, we begin to develop legal legal begin to develop we and when, Whether, Parminder Jeet Singh, IT for Change, India. Change, Singh, IT for Jeet Parminder frameworks around data, and do the required the required and do data, around frameworks on who depends considerably, accounting, value has India benefitsexercise. such an the most from with a draftcome up policy that declares a community data by over ownership collective ownership collective Data’s it. that contributes to that policy frameworks many is also inherent in requiring some kind of data propose or suggest for and society economy sharing across the for ‘Data One of these is the benefit. everyone’s of the Social Democratic Party of initiative all’ data is Platforms where a sector’s are Germany. into digital intelligence, and converted mined, to orchestrate all activities which is then employed that It has been argued sector. and actors in any to in order platforms should be public utilities, protect the considerable interest public actively but Similarly, working. inherent in the platforms’ and other of the workers’ a stake separately, cab distributed data-contributing actors – like small traders and small-medium drivers, a how enterprises (SMEs) – can be built into its and how platform is run and managed, get workers As efficiency are distributed. gains digitally separated from each other and more than a simultaneously closely controlled – the factory be on the floor, could ever foreman push-back has to be through data collectivisation, a part back at least to take of the with a view need to collectivise their Workers digital control. This will require data to break their digital chains! of ownership appropriate legal forms of collective Workers’ to intelligent production. data that is key and them, data produced by economic rights over digital intelligence in the ensuing thus their stake can be reconciled the digital economy, that drives with profit-oriented and entrepreneurship Data collectors too will capitalism. progressive as would value, data’s appropriate rights over have Such rights could be data contributors. different as per the kind of data, differentiated rights time-limited exclusive uses of the same data, co-decision making, sharing obligations, versus that the it is undeniable today, But, and so on. of the pendulum has swung too far in favour It requires to be pulled of digital capital. owners and other the rights of workers back towards actors of a digital economy. marginalised Understanding the economic relationships around is necessary for and digital intelligence, data, called social contractshaping a new have that many their workers It can provide in a digital society. for pie. due share of the digital economy ACROSS THE GLOBE 68 N SA Labour Bulletin ikakhulukazi ezinkampanini esejwayekile. Lokhukunjalo Lesi simosesiqalaukubayinto zinkampani azinakhoukuzimela. ukuthi, ngamanye amagama, lezi nokuthi kuphi. Lokhukusho ukuthi zikhiqizaini, kanjani izinkampani azinqumingokwazo Kuyaziwa ukuthiku-e-commerce bazothathwa njengabasebenzi. abakhiqizi abasathuthuka lokho kunjalokushoukuthi zabo nabashayeli babo?Uma abashayeli be-uberbanezithuthi Kodwa kuyiqinisoyiniukuthi konke okulindelwe kulokhu. simo, futhingiyazwelana nakho futhi ngiyaqondaisizathusalesi le ndlelayokubuka lenselelo, zamazwe ahlukene. Ngiyayibona kumenyezelwe izinkantolo bezithuthi zomphakathi. Lokhu bangeniswe esigabenisabashayeli be-uber izoguqulwa ukuze Izimpilo nemibandelayabashayeli sithathe i-ubernjengesibonelo. balomnotho.kubasebenzi Ake sibambe iqhazaekungeneleleni kumabhizinisi walomnotho futhi kufanele sibambeiqhaza sivikele amalungeloabasebenzi lo mnothowedijithali futhi ukuze siwuzwisisengokuphelele kanjani. Ngokubonakwami lolu hlelolozomnotho lumiswe hlobo lomnothohhayi ukuthi kulokho okuqhamukakulolu kwalezi zingqikithingobazigxile ukuthi ngibuke ngaphezulu isikhathi kuzo. Kepha kubalulekile yingakho ngingeke ngichithe zizokhiqiza izingxoxo ezibanzi yi-uberization. Lezizingqikithi eyaziwa nomaebizwa ngokuthi engaphephile ngenxayezomnotho badluliselwe emisebenzini bese kuthiabanye abasebenzi abasebenzi emisebenziniyabo ezisebenzela ngokwayo) ezosusa ne-automation (imishinieminingi ezizobhekana nabasebenzi. Kuzoba ngazo mayelana nezinguquko kunezindikimba ezimbiliokuxoxwa zingena emiphakathini wedijithali ziqala jengoba ezomnotho Vol 43Number 2and3 kuya kubagibeli. emadolobheni, kusukakubashayeli olunedatha ehlakazekileeqoqwe nabagibeli. Uhlelolwe-uber uhlelo ubudlelwano phakathikomshayeli abaphathi be-uberabakhi Akumangazi lokhu!Kepha ezindaweni zaboezihlukahlukene ukuthutha abagibelibaye futhi bazosebenzisaizimoto be-uber ukuthibazobanezimoto Kunesivumelwano nabashayeli abashayeli be-uberbazimele. esibonelweni se-uberbesesithi ezisheshayo.sigxile Asiqhubeke sizame ukutholaizixazululo kuyesabeka. Ngakho-ke ake kungenxa yokuthi empeleni lokhu kuvela njengokwethusayo ohlale ulawulwa yingqondo. Uma sekufana nomzimbawomuntu nomsebenzi wabasebenzi ethile. Konke okuphathelene konke ngomnothowemikhakha sengathi lezizinkampanizazi Lokhu kwenza kubukeke maqondana nomnothowedijithali. ubuhlakani bokufakelwa wokuqoqa idatha esebenzisa ezikhangisa kumapulatifomu Kuyaziwa ukuthi umnotho we-uber nabo bahlomule ngalomnotho. inzuzo kulomnothokumele abashayeli be-uberbekhiqiza isimemezelo sokuthinjengoba ayihlukile kangako. Kungenziwa eqhamuka kubashayeli isizinda esenzaidatha?Idatha kwedatha nomalaboabalawula ngepulatifomu yokusetshenziswa ukuthi kubengabantuabanikeza Yezinto. Ingabekungenzeka onelungelo phezukwe-Intanethi Union ziyabuzaukuthingubani izingqubomgomo ze-European abangabalulekile kangako. Ezinye be-uber bethathwa njengabantu umnotho wedatha yizeabashayeli idlala indimaenkuluekwandiseni nobuhlakani bokufakelwa? I-uber etholakala emnothweni wedatha onelungelo lokutholaimali Umuntu angabuzaukuthingubani KWEDATHA? NGUBANI ONEGUNYA PHEZU maqondana nomongo wethu kubashayeli be-uber, futhi ingeyabaqashi, okuyinto engekho into ekhiqizwa emsebenzini kungashiwo ukuthiyonke nabasebenzi abajwayelekile komnotho wedijithali. Maqondana bahlaziye ngokupheleleukuqoqeka ohulumeni bomhlabakufanele kimi kubalulekilekakhulufuthi datha banesabelokulokhu?Lokhu ingabe abantuabakhiqizale indlela yokubuza lombuzo, kumadola ayizigidigidi? Enye izimakethe zilinganiselalokhu zithengisa idathanjengoba ngamapulatifomu ezensizakalo ukuthi izinkampaniezinikezela zihambe kahle. Singabuzafuthi zonke izintokwezomnotho Le ngcebobalulekileukuze kahle ingabhekwa njengengcebo. bokufakelwa. Idathaehlelwe kwenzeka ngenxayobuhlakani kuyanethezeka, futhilokhu nge-uber kuyinsizakalo, akubizi, wedijithali. Ngakho-ke ukuhamba ungumphumela womnotho kube yimpumelelo. Lomongo yiyona eyenza konke lokhu Idatha encike kubuhlakani nomkhiqizo ngasikhathisinye. ngesikhathi sakhoiyinsizakalo ubuhlakani. I-imeyili oyithola imikhiqizo kanye nokusebenzisa lugxile kubuhlakanibokufakelwa, bokufakelwa. Lolushintsho lugxile ekwakheni ubuhlakani ngobuningi lolushintsho bezigxile ekukhiqizeniizinto izinguquko zangaphambilini bangabashayeli njekuphela. Uma mnotho esikhundlenisokuhlala ngabadlali ababambaiqhazakulo abashayeli be-uberngobabazoba Le ntuthuko ingathokozisa babeneqhaza emnothweni we-uber. abashayeli be-uberbabenezwifuthi sekwenziwe kuzobalulaukuthi kodwa ecacile. Umalokhu futhi kubhalwe ngendlelaehlukile ukushintshwa, kuchazwe kabusha ukuthi kunokuningiokudinga abashayeli be-uber. Lokhukusho bokufakelwa obukhiqizwa uncike kwidathanobuhlakani ACROSS THE GLOBE 69 December 2019/January 2020 Inkinga yokuthi sizozakha nini sizozakha Inkinga yokuthi kwidatha eyakhiwe emsebenzini. emsebenzini. eyakhiwe kwidatha ngokusobala kungashiwo Kulokhu banamalungeloukuthi abasebenzi emnothweni angenamkhawulo ukuthi le datha noma wedatha Uma kanjani. isatshalaliswa kuyihaba lokhu kuzwakala khumbula ukuthi ukubaluleka wezwe, emnothweni komhlaba izimboni inzuzo eyayikhiqizwa kwempahla nokuvikelwa kanye lapho izinto kwenzeka yengqondo zazisenenkungu. futhi kuphi izinqubomgomo bese senza eziphathelene nedatha ekutheni ngubani izibalo incike kakhulu kulo ozohlomula lase India lize Izwe mkhakha. nenqubomgomo esho ukuthi kumele ibe idatha ekhiqiziwe ababambe iqhaza bonke ngeyabo Lesifiso kwayo. ekukhiqizweni sokuthi kube nalolu bumbano ngedatha ekwabelaneni yizo zonke sikhuthazwa umbono izinqubomgomo ezisekela idatha kumele ibe wokuthi ngokufanayo ngeyabaqashi nabasebenzi ukuze imiphakathi Isibonelo ithuthukiswe. nayo wonke salokhu yidatha yawo lweSocial umuntu osehlelweni Democratic Party yaseJalimane. kusuka Idatha ekhiqizwa wedatha kumapulatifomu ibe ubuhlakaniphi ishintshwa kwalokho bese emva bokufakelwa emikhakheni isatshalaliswa lapho izosetshenziswa ehlukene ngezindlela ezahlukahlukene. bathi lezi zinkundla Abanye kufanele zisize imiphakathi ukuze izakhamuzi nazo zihlomule into kungeyona Yize kulomnotho. lokhu kuyafana nengxenye eyodwa yabasebenzi nabasabalalisi noma abathengisi be-uber, abashayeli abancane nambhizinisi aphakathi maqondana nendawo, ngenhloso nokuxhumana kwabo ukuthi amapulatifomu yokucacisa ngezinsizakalo nokuthi anikezela Njengoba inzuzo isebenza kanjani. futhi abasebenzi behlukene yidijithali ngaso sonke bebhekwe idatha abayikhiqizayo kumele idatha abayikhiqizayo kusivumelwano ibhalwe Ochwepheshe somsebenzi? Union baqhathanisabe-European nedatha idatha yamazwe ukuthi futhi bakholelwa ye-Amazon ukusebenzisa abathengi bangakwazi Bathathe idatha ngokuzibophezela. imikhiqizolesi sixazululo ngoba yize ivela e-Amazon ekhangiswa kumakhasimende ahlukene se-Amazon isizinda ayizibangeli lapho Ngesikhathi izinkinga. futhi zobunzima, siphila ezikhathini inkontileka kukhona ukungalingani, siqu ingahle inganikezeli yomuntu Lokhu kufana imiphumela emihle. nesimo lapho umsebenzi ngemuva ekuthola inkontileka kokusayina lokhukunzima ukuyihoxisa isikhathi kuyaphikisana kwesinye namalungelo abantu njengoba kumthethosisekelo kubhalwe Amalungelo abantu wezwe. isikhathi kwesinye athuthukisa izwe abantu ahlukile emalungelweni ababili abangena kwisivumelwano. Lokhu kuyafana namakhasimende idatha athengisa e-Amazon, ngabasebenzi yakhiqizwa eye ngezindlela izosetshenziswa abasebenzi ezimbili (1) ukwenza kalula noma bahlukunyezwe babengaphansi kobushiqela, okuyinto ezophazamisa abasebenzi (2) esikhathini esifushane bazothola be-Uber abashayeli ngoba i-Uber izothola ukudilizwa izimoto ezisebanza ngaphandle okuyinto efiswa komshayeli, Noma ngabaphathi be-Uber. lokhu kwabhalwa ngabe konke kunembile kusivumelwano, noma yini ukuthi amakilayenti abasebenzi uqobo ngaphandle abahumusha kongcweti ngokuthengisa bakhangise impela lokhu ngemikhiqizo yabo, kuzobaholela ekukhohlisweni? Ngabe abasebenzi akufanele yini babe namalungelo ezepolitiki okuthatha isinqumo sokuthi bafuna ukuthengisa idatha ngamanani abo. abayikhiqizayo lendlela Njengoba sekushiwo, udaba ingasebenza yokubuka UKUBALULEKA KOKUBA NGUMNIKAZI NDAWONYE WEDATHA Abantu abakhiqiza idatha esetshenziswa nemininingwane kubuhlakani bokufakelwa ukuthi le banelungelo lokwazi kanjani. datha isetshenziswa babeneqhaza maqondana Kumele nokuthi le datha isetshenziswa Abasebenzi bazokhokhelwa kanjani. noma njalo ngenyanga kanjani, kuzosho ukuthi ngisho nedathakuzosho ukuthi yokusebenza endaweni ekhiqizwe Le ndlela yokubuka ingeyomqashi. idala izinkinga eziningi. lolu daba idatha ingxenye Ingabe ukukhiqiza somsebenzi noma yesivumelwano lapho masisha into ekhiqizwa nomaisisebenzi siqala ukucabanga Uma umsebenzi waso. ukwenza siqinisile, isitatimende esedlule kanjani? abasebenzi bazokhokhelwa ukunikela Idatha ekhiqizwa naleyo ngezinsizakalo ayifani ukudala imikhiqizo ekhiqizwa Idatha eyenziwe ebonakalayo. kufanelengumsebenzi emsebenzini lakhe lomholo. ibe yisisekelosenani Ukukhula ngokushesha kwenani Isisebenzi ledatha kuyamangaza. inani kwidatha ukubeka asikwazi asazi ukukala ngoba ayikhiqizayo Lesi simo saziwa inani ledatha. ngabantu abanemininingwane yabantu abakhiqiza idatha. Indlela efanelekile yokuthengisa le datha nobuhlakani bedijithali ukubumbana phakathi ukwakha nabaqashi. kwabasebenzi Lokhu kusho ukuthi wonke umuntu obambe iqhaza kumele yokwenza yenqubo abeyingxenye ngenzuzo. izinqumo nokwabelana Okubalulekile ukuthi idatha abasebenzi yidatha ekhiqizwa ukususa izisebenzi esetshenziselwa ubuhlakani into, Enye emsebenzini. obuzobheka bokufakelwa inani elincane lezisebenzi ngedatha ekhiqizwe buzothengwa Laba basebenzi ngabasebenzi. abasele bazohlakazeka futhi bazolindela ngaphezulu kwalokho emsebenzini ukuthi badilizwe okungenzeka noma inini. ACROSS THE GLOBE 70 Change, India. Parminder Jeet Singh,ITfor SA Labour Bulletin kulomnotho wedijithali. abasebenzi batholeucezu kubalulekile ngobakungenza wedijithali. Konke lokhu sesizongena emiphakathini emiphakathini yabonjengoba kakhulu ekuzwaneni kwabantu bokufakelwa yintoebaluleke nedatha nobuhlakani ngobudlelwano mayelana emnothweni wedijithali. Ukwazi abasemaphethelweni avikeleke namalungelo alabo amalungelo ezisebenzi kufanele kuguquke ukuze apaphethe idatha. Lokhu izinto ziyakhanya kulabo okucacayo njengamanjeukuthi nezinye izinto. Kepha-ke ukuvumelana ngokuhlangana ayinamkhawulo, ukufezekisa ngokuthi idathaikaliwe noma noma ngawodwana ngokuya angathathwa ngokuhlangana kwedatha, lamalungelo Maqondana nokwehluka kwezinhlelo zedatha. nombono ekuhlelweni idatha bayoba nelungelolokuba Labo abaqoqafuthibasabalalise lwekhapithalizimu olubucayi. kololo hlelolomhlaba izimakethe eziqhutshwa yinzuzo ezinqumweni ezenziwa abayikhiqizayo kumeleafakwe Amalungelo abasebenzikudatha kobuhlakani bokufakelwa. kubalulekile ekwakhiweni kwemininingwane njengoba nasekusatshalalisweni ekukhiqizweni unikeze izinqumo kuzodinga ukuthiumthetho ezihweba ngedatha. Lokhu bakwazi ukuzimelaezimakethe ubunikazi kuleyo dathaukuze babenesabelo esikhombisa kudatha.kufanele Abasebenzi ukuthola ubunikazibobumbano isisombululo esingconosalokhu kunenduna, ngakho-ke kuzoba nomholiophakeme isikhathi, kumafetri manje Vol 43Number 2and3
T 1 Liberals, where are you? where are Liberals, Hong Kong workers at theLeninshipyard in thesameway asthe Polish of realpolitik. They can’twin ‘They can’t win’ isthe wisdom are risingup, againsttheodds. an incredibleinspiration. They fighting for ourfuture. chief, theseyoung peopleare uniting againsttheassaulterin minor politicalissuesinsteadof overare tearingeachotherapart the lot, intheUS andDemocrats by Johnson, Orban, Saliviniand Europe seemstobeshellshocked creativity andcourage. While power withdetermination, against theriseofauthoritarian
university.org/2019/09/hong-kong-liberals-where-are-you.html#more) was firstpublishedinthe GlobalLabourColumn(http://column.global-labour- This article The peopleofHongKong offer incredible inspiration. They arerisingup, theodds. against the protests. To Hoffer, thepeopleofHongKong offeran in thecity. Morethan1.5-millionpeopleareactivein in underminingthepoliticalfreedomandruleoflaw China. The peopleofHongKong seethis as anotherstep offenders andfugitives’tobeextraditedmainland wouldallow sparked byanextraditionbillthat ‘legal which arelargelyledbytheyouth. The protestswere theongoingHongKongFrank Hofferlooksat protests, democracy. They standup fighting for freedomand housands ofpeopleare the highestwestern value. overseas investment seemstobe to Chinesemarkets orto Chinese provoke mainlandChina. Access should stay calmsoasnotto westliberal seemstobethatwe the silentassumptionof side oftheironcurtain. Today, they happentolive onthewrong a goodcause, butunfortunately toldthem thatthey haveliberals time, reasonableprogressive couldn’t winin1981. At that the Americans, they justwant are notremote-controlled by justice anddemocracy. They what isdearesttous: freedom, Here arepeoplewhofight for DEMOCRACY JUSTICE AND FORFREEDOM,THE STRUGGLE 1 ACROSS THE GLOBE 71 December 2019/January 2020 The complete withdrawal of of The complete withdrawal the proposed extradition bill; to withdraw The government in ‘riot’ the use of the word relation to protests; The unconditional release of arrested protesters and against them dropped; charges An independent inquiry into police behaviour; Implementation of genuine suffrage. universal But would Western support Western But would a crackdown from not provoke mainland China? No one knows. is that western know What we silence did not stop the massive the Chinese crackdown on even most modest forms of civil society movement and labour-rights China is in mainland China. SHOULD WE HELP THEM AND CAN WE HELP THEM? THE ANSWER IS YES IN BOTH CASES! • • • • • the streets. These people want want These people the streets. their freedoms maintained and about the increasing are worried influence of mainland China. The extradition bill sparked allow the protest as it would and ‘legal offenders extraditing to mainland China. fugitives’ step see this as another People in undermining the political freedom and the rule of law is not The protest in the city. but just about one single law the principle about defending systems’. ‘one country – two of when the Bejing- Therefore, of appointed Chief Executive finally Ms Lam, Hong Kong, the bill to withdraw offered after thirteen of protest, weeks People too little too late. it was free elections as safeguards want against a further erosion of their put rights and freedoms and have demands: five forward Hong Kong protestors. Credit: Hong Kong Free Press Free Hong Kong Credit: protestors. Hong Kong to determine their own destiny. to determine destiny. their own of a government want They for the people, by the people, shown have They the people. incredible discipline and a of tactics to maintain the variety momentum through calculated the Occupying escalation. blocking the council, legislative and taking airport, Hong Kong the demonstrations into shopping a of the flexibility shows malls, simultaneously well-coordinated, mass leaderless, but largely has been ‘Be water’ movement. to be a successful strategy; without exposing everywhere Attempts individual leaders. to denounce the protest as controlled and initiated by agents or home-grown foreign are laughable and ‘terrorists’ ridiculous when more than 1.5-million people out of a total population of 7 million are in ACROSS THE GLOBE 72 SA Labour Bulletin Merkel, theHongKong versa. This isnotalocalaffair. worldwidedemocracy andvice will beaboostfor genuine Hong Kong airport. Their success European values aresitting in defenders ofmost determined withintheEU,frustration the Europeanexploits Eastern Silk Road successfully project disintegration, andtheChinese a hardBrexit tofoster European international,encourages Trump a right-wing, anti-European democracy. When Putinsupports who caresaboutfreedomand say for everybody everywhere have to somethingimportant freedom ofthestatusquo. They to defend even thelimited it istheironlyrealisticchance dare theimpossible, because who radicals They arepragmatic are smart, they arecourageous. to speaktheworld? They their cityandgive themachance from themwhatisgoingonin in HongKong directly and learn skype conversations withpeople and parliamentsorganise regular Can universities, politicalparties, them avoice inoursocieties. people ofHongKong andgive First, we shouldlistentothe CAN COURSE WE BUT CAN WE DO ANYTHING? OF of business. means, appeasementfor thesake understands whatitreally civil rightsimprovements, but for dialogueandmoderate order tokeep thedooropen in restraint not asdeliberate understanding western silence they willfaceapublicbacklashifblatantlyputmoneybefore people. multinationalsthattheyneedtospeakupnow.western Western businesshastoknowthat financialinstitutionsand havetocallonwestern democracy insocietyandgovernments Western businessneedstoknowthatbeingsilentalsocomesataprice.Thosecaringabout In arecentletterto Angela Vol 43Number 2and3 Beijing choserepression. the authoritiesinHongKong or Kong willbetheconsequenceif that disinvestment fromHong leaders mustsay loudandclearly government does. Business crackdown by theChinese at risk, butany authoritarian Hong Kong’s economy vibrant putnot thatthedemonstrators Hong Kong andBeijinghastobe message totheauthoritiesin business asusual. The strong have tocallonbusinessstop all theotherseven louder. Merkel andmakes thesilenceof heard sofarspeaksfor Ms Chineseleadershavereaction chancellor isthestrongest the conservative andcautious carefully worded statementby needs tobeavoided. That this and thatviolenceguaranteed people inHongKong mustbe civil rightsandfreedomofthe expressed inBeijingthatthe the letterandMsMerkel tabloid newspaper, published your stay inChina.’ the Chinesegovernment during you willconvey ourdemandsto catastrophic situationandthat express your aboutour concern 80s. ... We hopethatyou will authoritarianism duringthe forefront against ofthefight stoodatthecourageously government. ... The Germans ofadictatorialof theterrors ‘You have experience first-hand inEastGermany: rule party upbringing underadictatorial referring alsotoMsMerkel’s protestors calledfor hersupport, Second, western democrats Bild, thelargest German of the GlobalLabourUniversity. Frank Hoffer isan associatefellow worst comestotheworst. for ourcommonvalues, ifthe demonstratorsthe courageous needs tooffer asafe haven to global support. Fifth, Europe need toseethatHongKong has governments andbusinesses governments, butalsowestern values. Not only theChinese signal thatthey sharetheir Hong Kong tosendapowerful in solidaritywiththepeople cities shouldcometothestreets blanche. that ithascarte Hong Kong willconvince China countries. However, silenceover for westernopportunities implies costsandlostbusiness Imposing thesecostsonChina political andeconomiccosts. clamp down onHongKong has Kong. Chinamustknow thata the voice ofthepeopleHong willingness tohearandrespect inevitable, ifChinashows no economic consequenceswillbe government thatdiplomaticand conversations withtheChinese need tobeclearintheir people. they blatantlyputmoney before will faceapublicbacklashif business hastoknow thatthey need tospeakupnow. Western western multinationalsthatthey western institutionsand financial governments have tocallon insocietyandabout democracy comes ataprice. Those caring know thatbeingsilentalso Fourth, peopleinEuropean Third, Europeangovernments Western businessneedsto ACROSS THE GLOBE 73 December 2019/January 2020 SERVICIFICATION AND SERVICIFICATION DIGITALISATION years, During the past twenty the most common e-commerce was associated with definition Trade Organization the World adopted in approach, (WTO) WTO the By e-commerce, 1998. means ‘production, distribution, of sale or delivery marketing, goods and services electronic by In 2017 the US proposed means’. concept of digital trade, a new which means trade in services, of sales of ‘the value as far as goods ordered online, physical goods that as physical as well a digital counterpart (such have countries label digital regulations other as trade protectionism, economies consider such policies as vital in pursuing legitimate the question that Indeed, goals. is whether needs to be answered that are being introduced the laws set rules that (intentionally or may digital tradenot) create barriers for and e-commerce development. Unfortunately, international Unfortunately, Just as the issue of trade data transfers across borders. across borders. data transfers trade rules are lagging far behind A technological advancements. lack of multilateral regulations for forms and means new emerging as little consensus of trade as well and cooperation between to on issues of how governments better ensure that non-economic result in are being met, objectives economic the rise of barriers for in international agents involved Although due to its trade activity. trade- the topic of how novelty, measures regulating restrictive digital trade and e-commerce some yet, studied are not well negative recent research revealed consequences of specific policies instance, for trade (see, for 2019). der Marrel, van Ferracane, of digital policies restrictiveness the problem is understudied, or may serve of whether they as the means potentially serve of hidden protectionism remains While some more opaque. even
igital trade and e-commerce are important of drivers However, globalisation.
looks at the technical aspects of digital trade policy and argues looks atTatiana Flegontova of digital trade policy the technical aspects may haveAfrica (BRICS) scope to pursue China and South India, Russia, that Brazil, Organization (WTO) and other fora by focusing Trade World a common agenda in the and consumers services agenda, paperless trade, informationon data and security, a gradual liberalisation and (including protection, intellectual property rights (IPRs) on https://www. Tatiana See our interview with moratorium on electronic transmissions). youtube.com/watch?v=PBuEDzluxOc&t=2s In response to the rapid changes
as information and data flow as information data flow and countries and continents between so increase with enormous pace, do the concerns of the national about their security. governments and the technological shifts that affect all types of social and economic interactions between governments the stakeholders, to create are taking the initiative suitable regulatory frameworks to maintain the balance between interests in the public and private one As a result, digital economy. of the main challenges that all face is that national stakeholders regulatory become frameworks while and diverse, more complex regional and international few rules are being agreed on. is privacy A good example with about 130 different laws, and very national acts worldwide international or regional few personal mechanisms to govern BRICS agenda BRICS
Digital trade policy: policy: trade Digital D ACROSS THE GLOBE 74 SA Labour Bulletin OECD Source: Figure 1:DigitalTradePolicy:STRIOECD • • • tendencies: to beareasonfor thefollowing isconsidered inservices trade same time, thedigitalisationof evenin services further. At the to increasetheshareoftrade technologies hasthepotential The development of digital ofvalue added.45% interms and in grossrates the totaltrade isequalto21%of in services oftheglobaleconomyof trade widespread tendency. The share economy hasrecentlybecomea based)oftheglobal (serviced negotiations. forbecome acornerstone future agendamay inservices trade Under thesecircumstances, digital challenges thathave tobetackled. areasandrelated the regulatory issues discussed; we identify one ofthemostcomplicated agendahasbecome related trade Thus, thescopeofdigitally software soldonCDsorDVDs)’. as books, movies,music, and The trend for servicification The trendfor servicification services willincrease. services the shareofICT-related Supply); (1stModeof cross-border trade with thegrowing shareof the increasewillbeassociated 25% by 2030; from21%to in globaltrade lead toanincreaseofservices intelligence androbotics, will technologies, suchasartificial according tothe WTO, new Vol 43Number 2and3 under five areas: policy measuresarecategorised across46countries.services The indigitallyenabled trade that affect identifying andcataloguingbarriers Development (OECD), isaimedat for and Economic Co-operation developed by theOrganisation goods ande-commerceinparticular. in trade mainly policiesthataffect have beenanalysedby ECIPEcover policymeasuresthat oftrade range across 64countriesworldwide. The more than100policymeasures policiescovering oftrade spectrum e-commerce andanalysesawide and digitaltrade countries restrict The DTRIindex measureshow Restrictiveness Index (DigitalSTRI). the OECD’s DigitalServices Trade Trade Restrictions Index (DTRI)and known aretheECIPE’s Digital restrictiveness exist. The mostwell that representthedigitalpolicies stage,the current afew indices have relatively started recently. At todigitaltrade of thebarriers Systematisation andevaluation MEASURES DIGITAL SERVICES TRADE POLICY border trade inservices. border trade decreased inordertoeasecross- shouldbe todigitaltrade barriers many countriesarestating, the the recenttendencies. Besides, as policyinaccordancewith trade needtochange is aparticular The index, whichhasbeen Under thesecircumstances, there terms ofdigitalrestrictions. terms most over-regulated economiesin places BRICSmembersamongthe related policies. The DTRIindex andconnectivity- infrastructure onassociated withrestrictions inBRICScountries isbarriers significant shareofthedigital regulations.restrictive The by themostare characterised Indonesia andSaudi Arabia (BRICS) countriesfollowed by China andSouth Africa STRI, Brazil, Russia, India, 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.
transactions Electronic According toOECDDigital competition). restrict business practices tohavefirms redresswhen requirements, theabilityof commercial andlocalpresence (includingOther barriers mechanisms); treatment andenforcement (including discriminatory rights property Intellectual conformity); payment-securityinternational payment methodsand accessto discriminatory Payment systems(including e-commerce); requirements toengagein signatures,electronic licence’ for onlinetaxregistration, (including mechanisms data-related policies); requirements, cross-border (including interconnection andconnectivity Infrastructure ACROSS THE GLOBE 75 SK 168 YES YES 2.722 -0.926 -2.753 -1.762 11.43*** Thus, Thus, 1 SJ 173 YES YES 2.622 0.641 5.269* 11.09** -2.556*** December 2019/January 2020 SI 173 YES YES -1.485 6.518* 7.230* 5.636*** -1.622*** SH 174 YES YES 1.834 5.178 2.046 -0.363 5.542** digital-trade-policy measures, digital-trade-policy measures, countries the by implemented an will represent analysed, barrieradditional to trade. the coefficients show a positive a positive the coefficients show restrictions correlation between systems on electronic-payment of non-tariff and the total level measures in trade services in all impactThe highest is sectors. digitalised associated with more as such as financial, sectors, cultural and as personal, well Besides, recreational services. ‘other measures’ coefficients show of non- impact level on the total tariff barriers in total trade in services and in manufacturing- in related services trade, particular. to the competitiveness of the of the to the competitiveness including domestic producers, those from infant industries, face serious which would companies, pressure from foreign above- The TNCs in particular. mentioned challenges are even to the economies of more relevant including nations, the developing Due to the BRICS members. the presence of significant risks, future reduction of digital barriers will face serious resistance from Thus, domestic stakeholders. the interests of all the parties concerned met. should be SG 173 YES YES 1.651 3.437 -9.924 18.23*** -3.291*** SF 173 YES YES 1.446 -0.445 -5.936 4.013* 6.827** SE 166 YES YES 3.111 -0.686 7.680* 5.495* -12.19** SD 174 YES YES 0.452 0.915 3.339** 6.980*** -9.042*** to estimate ad valorem to estimate ad valorem to estimate the SC 174 YES YES -0.367 -1.415 4.950*** 3.182*** -4.687*** equivalent (AVE) of non-tariff (AVE) equivalent trademeasures (NTM) in in services Fontagne (based on 2011). et al. impact particular measures’ of non-tariff on the total level approach). measure (USITC Step 2: Step 1: Despite the positive effects effects Despite the positive • that show estimations RFTA BRICS countries are considered are considered BRICS countries the most regulated to have At the same digital-trade regime. the barrier nature of the time, is still to be policies implemented The methodology used estimated. steps, of two consists RFTA by namely: • DIGITAL TRADE TRADE AS POLICY DIGITAL NON- REGULATION TARIFF services, charges of the use of of the use of charges services, other intellectual property (IP), personal, business services, cultural and recreational services. associated with the reduction of potential risks the trade barriers, of liberalisation taken should be challenge The key into account. that has to be considered is the threat to national and information the triple including security, threats – the use of ICT in military- criminal and terrorist, Another issue political purposes. that has to be addressed is related SB 174 YES YES 5.366 6.951 2.548 -5.018 -1.995** SA 159 YES YES 4.664 13.37 -9.918 14.22*** -5.452*** S 174 YES YES 1.712 -0.310 -0.889 -2.505 3.638** Taking into consideration the into consideration the Taking At the same time, the work work the time, At the same Due to particular index drawbacks and limitations, we suggest considering the coefficients related to the groups ‘payment systems’ and ‘other barriers’ ‘other barriers’ and systems’ ‘payment suggest considering the coefficients related to the groups we Due to particular and limitations, drawbacks index information on current trade-policyas far as these sub-indices represent the most relevant measures.
Infrastructure Electronic transactions Electronic payments IPR Other Time-fixed effects Time-fixed Controls Number of observations current debates about the data- related policies and significant increase of data-restrictive a measures implemented by the impact number of countries, of data localisation measures of non-tariff on the total level measures has been estimated. analysis the results of RFTA Thus, that data-localisation show lead to the measures would increase in non-tariff measures as well in total trade in services, such as as in particular sectors, financial insurance and pension, carried out by the Russian the Russian carried out by Academy (RFTA) Trade Foreign confirms that the regulation tradeof digital the BRICS in the high countries does create of barriers international to level but the gap in the trade, exaggerated indices has been the the countries with for of levels highest and lowest BRICS Thus, digital restrictions. together, members should work information related to the provide current and domestic regulation methodological share existing approaches and best practices in order to enhance the existing digital-trade-policy assessment tools. 1 Table 1: Digital Trade Policy Restrictiveness: Estimation Results Table 1: Digital Trade Policy Restrictiveness: Source: RFTA estimations Source: RFTA ACROSS THE GLOBE 76 Source: RFTASource: estimations Table 2:DigitalTradePolicyRestrictiveness:EstimationResults SA Labour Bulletin e-commerce was growing and Ministers, ‘recognising thatglobal Conference inMay 1998. attheSecond Ministerial started under the WTO framework were • • International • agenda. The key players include: fora coverinternational thedigital barriers. negative ofrespective effects and decreasepossible digital trade facilitate inclusive andbalanced withtheaimto rules multilateral a setofregionaland, potentially, BRICS membersshoulddevelop of consumersandbusinesses, Taking intoaccounttheinterests POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS INTERNATIONAL AGENDAAND Number ofobservations Controls Time-fixed effects Data localisation E-commerce-related discussions At the current stage,At thecurrent anumberof consumer rights). (IP)and property intellectual facilitation;trade competition; duties one-transmissions; access; oncustoms moratorium scope;and digital-trade market agenda: shapingofe-commerce World Trade Organization (trade technologies; e-commerce); development; competition; data for innovative economic openness,internet environment; security, personalprivacy, agenda: information (regulatory andDevelopmentCo-Operation Organisation for Economic of ICTimplementation); society;information allaspects allocation; technicalstandards; management andfrequency (technical agenda: spectrum Telecommunication Union Vol 43Number 2and3 0.0838** YES YES 174 S 0.00176 YES YES 159 SA 0.0866 YES YES 174 SB including the WTO. At thecurrent organisations,international and onthesidelinesofother agenda bothwithinthefora the BRICScommondigital-trade toarticulate vivid opportunity above-mentioned, thereisa common. what isimportant, have muchin issuesand,variety oftrade-related their proposals, whichcover a BRICS economieshave circulated 2018. stage,At thecurrent all of was heldinthefirstquarter WTO members’. The firstmeeting opentoall with participation commerce, ofelectronic aspects WTO negotiations ontrade-related work towardsexploratory future members saidthey would ‘initiate Conference’. Besides, seventy-one sessionoftheMinisterialnext totheWTO bodiesand report submittedby therelevantreports periodic reviews basedon the the workreinvigorate and hold their willingness reiterated ‘to existing mandate’. Members the lastsession, basedonthe Commercesinceon Electronic under the Work Programme agreeing ‘to continuethework 2017 saw allmember-countries Conference inBuenos Aires in 1998. which was adoptedinSeptember work one-commerce, programme called for theestablishmentofa Commerce.Global Electronic This trade’, on adoptedtheDeclaration for creating new opportunities Taking the intoconsideration Recently, theMinisterial 0.0540 YES YES 174 SC 0.0848 YES YES 174 SD -0.103 YES YES 166 SE 0.290*** YES YES 173 SF 0.274* YES YES 173 SG (including infant)industries. competitiveness ofdomestic security,information aswell asthe addressed, namelynationaland limitations, whichhave tobe the measureswillhave particular provided,the variety ofservices ease market accessandincrease will thatpolicyreforms the fact changes. At thesametime, despite at thesecondstageofpolicy shall beundertaken liberalisation the labourmarket. Gradual companies’ competitiveness, and will securedataprivacy, local framework,the regulatory which measures tobetaken shallensure agenda.trade The firstsetof approach indeveloping digital of play impliesastep-by-step • agenda; • services • trade; paperless • • the following areas: may have acommonagendain areas take place, BRICSeconomies policy negotiations onparticular negotiations, buteven ifthe the scopeandmodalitiesof related agendahastofocus on stage, the WTO digital-trade- Russian Foreign Trade Academy. Economics andFinance under the of the Institutefor International Tatiana Flegontova isdeputyhead Current BRICSeconomies’Current state transmissions). on electronic a moratorium (including liberalisation gradual protection; rights(IPRs) property consumers andintellectual anddatasecurity;information 0.387*** YES YES 174 SH 0.101 YES YES 173 SI 0.223** YES YES 173 SJ 0.289*** YES YES 168 SK UNLOCKING LABOUR LAWS 77 December 2019/January 2020 Another important and broadly per se but are in training, are per se but are in training, ‘apprentices, interns, workers has been whose employment jobseekers volunteers, terminated, and individuals and job applicants, duties or the authority, exercising responsibilities of an employer’. By inserting this provision, 190 aims to provide Convention of irrespective relief to workers their contractual status or sector. ‘violence and defined term is In terms of the harassment’. the termto a refers convention, ‘range of unacceptable behaviours or threats thereof, and practices, whether a single occurrence or result in, that aim at, repeated, to result in physical, or are likely or economic sexual psychological, includes gender- and harm, based violence and harassment’. These can include physical brutal death, harm (beatings, psychological etc.), evictions, degradation, harm (intimidation, financial etc.), threats of violence, bribery, harm (withholding wages, etc.) and burdensome tax levies, workers cultural harm (preventing from participating in cultural also The convention etc.). activities, as GBV defines and acknowledges Convention 190 is broadly Convention also protects The convention harassment’. It calls on these harassment’. members to recognise the duty to create and maintain robust legislation and policies that support victims and curb violence violence [including gender-based and harassment. (GBV)] drafted member states and affords adapt enough freedom to creatively the and develop the convention after policies ratification. relevant of work’ ‘world the example, For is broadly defined to include the where work places workplace, and from the to travel is paid, places where work- workplace, related activities are conducted through and also includes vehicles communication which work-related This definition etc. is exchanged, recognises the 61% majority of the are employed who workers world’s in the informal sector as domestic home-based care workers, workers, and so workers, sex street vendors, around 30% of Africa, In South on. is based in the total employment The convention informal sector. recognises that the informal sector is often plagued with physical, violence. and psychological sexual individuals who are not employed indicates that in June 2019, the International the Organization Labour Tsotetsi indicatesBoitumelo that 2019, June in 190 and Recommendation and Harassment Convention Violence the (ILO) adopted Convention 190 is the first convention specifically dedicated to the eradication of 206. workplace. violence and harassment in the The adoption is important for highlights The convention
THE VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT CONVENTION AND RECOMMENDATION In June 2019 the International (ILO) Labour Organization and Violence adopted the 190 Harassment Convention The 206. and Recommendation adoption is in line with the ‘violence recognition that ILO’s of and harassment in the world can constitute a human work [and that it] is rights violation ... unacceptable and incompatible with decent work’. this convention Firstly, reasons. two is the first to be adopted since the in Convention Workers Domestic 190 Convention Secondly, 2011. specifically is the first convention dedicated to the eradication of violence and harassment in the It recognises that the workplace. internationalexisting standards are not enough to eradicate violence to serves and in the workplace strengthen efforts geared towards are free ensuring that workplaces from violence. the important responsibility placed on each member state to ‘promote a general environment of zero tolerance to violence and
harassment in the workplace in harassment Addressing violence and and violence Addressing UNLOCKING LABOUR LAWS 78 SA Labour Bulletin South Africa iswell positioned to inspiredtragedies),#AmINext campaigns and, locally#Uyinene/ (globally, the#MeToo movement and domesticviolencecases number ofworkplace harassment intothe does filter workplace. domestic violencecanandoften the ILO’s acknowledgement that for definingGBV andconfirms This tiesinwiththemotivation intheworldits impact ofwork’. is reasonablypracticable, mitigate domestic violenceand, sofaras to ... of recognisetheeffects ‘take appropriatemeasures to suitableremedies. haveinterested parties easyaccess and regulationsensurethatall monitor andenforce nationallaws effectively workers, protect to prevent humanrightsviolations, practicable’, take appropriatesteps to, sofarasis ‘reasonably legally binding.) a guidingdocumentandisnot (The recommendationismerely convention willbecomebinding. theseconditionsthat the after countries have ratified it. Itisonly into force two 12monthsafter convention willonlyenter duties.corresponding towards andits theissuesraised indicate a government’s seriousness isstilltheonly ratification way to recommendation arewelcomed, Although theconvention and TOWARDS RATIFICATION possible.much aspracticably as aims toassistthoseaffected violence intheworkplace and ofdomestic recognises theeffect Inclusion ofthisdefinition and includessexual harassment’. sex orgenderdisproportionately, personsofaparticular affecting because oftheirsex orgender, or atpersons directed and harassment therefore, definedasthe ‘violence violation.a separate is,The term In lightoftheoverwhelming Member statesareurged to Member statesareencouraged It isworth notingthatthe Vol 43Number 2and3 protecting itswomenprotecting andchildren. workforce andmoreespecially, towards itsexisting protecting take aboldandunapologeticstep • from Harassment Act 2011. andtheProtection Harassment) andHandlingofSexual Practice (together withtheCodeofGood 2002, Employment Equity Act 1998 Relations AmendmentAct Labour a numberoflaws includingthe 12,section legislatureenacted way’. Inordertogive to effect a cruel, inhumaneordegrading ‘not tobetreatedorpunishedin public orprivate sources’ and ofviolencefromeither forms has therighttobe ‘free fromall providessection thataperson Constitution.African The South 12ofthe to personsinsection afforded similar totheprotection places ofwork. This labourrightis workersaims toprotect inall As statedearlier, Convention 190 CURRENT LEGALFRAMEWORK gender and/orsexual orientation. especially onthegroundsofsex, and isespeciallyprohibited constitutes unfairdiscrimination attention isunwelcome. who reasonablyknows thatsuch from apersonwhoknows or unwelcome sexual attention mayharm becaused. This includes a persontoreasonablybelieve that orthatinspires either causesharm that conduct andindirect the direct ‘Harassment’ canbeunderstoodas SOUTH AFRICA VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENTIN In thiscountry, harassment Act 2002: Labour RelationsAmendment harassment occurred.harassment ofsexual instances where acts of constructive dismissalin provides witharemedy victims resolution. The LRAalso and (CCMA)for Arbitration for Conciliation, Mediation be referred totheCommission of discriminationandcanthus isanunfairground harassment asstatedabove, • • as aresultofthefailure. compensation orimposeafine may issueanawardcourt for non-compliance, thelabour the employer persistwith coerce compliance. Should orders may beissuedto non-compliant, compliance employers arefound tobe can bemonitored, andwhere provides thatthesedocuments designated groups. This act adversely membersof affect employment thatmay barriers (documents) thatidentifies the and working environment policies, practices, procedures, an analysisofemployment designated employers toconduct systems, theEEArequires states tohave effective reporting responsibility placedonmember affirmative action. Inlightofthe and implementationof includes sexual harassment) unfair discrimination(which through theeliminationof fair treatmentinemployment andthe equal opportunity in theworkplace by promoting the EEAaimstoachieve equity 1998 (asamended)(EEA): Employment EquityAct Act 2002: Employment Amendment Basic Conditionsof development inany way. or spiritual,social or moral physical ormentalhealth child’s wellbeing, education, that inappropriate orthataffects be employed atajobthatis the ageof15years oldmay also provides thatnochildover towork).or permitted This act employee may berequiredto of thevarious placeswherethe necessary, includeastatement workplace (whichmust, where ofanemployee’sdeclaration requiresanupfront this act purposes ofConvention 190, Constitution. for Important 23ofthe as statedinsection right tofairlabourpractices istogivethis act tothe effect the purpose of thepurposeof
UNLOCKING LABOUR LAWS • Protection from Harassment the employer’s duty of care Act 2011: this act was enacted includes the duty to take to provide recourse to any reasonable steps to protect victims of harassment who employees from physical harm are in a domestic relationship and can sometimes include the with the perpetrator and to duty to protect employees address harassment behaviours from psychological harm that violate constitutional as a result of sexual provisions of a person’s right harassment. to privacy and human dignity. It is clear from the brief In terms of this act, a court considerations above may, through interim and final that the South African protection orders, prohibit a legislative framework perpetrator from engaging in is somewhat aligned certain conduct and entering with the requirements the victim’s workplace. expressed in • Code of Good Practice Convention 190. and Handling of Sexual Ratification would Harassment: in its only serve introduction, the code to reinforce states a clear objective to the country’s ‘eliminate sexual harassment commitment to in the workplace’ by providing its labour force and ‘appropriate procedures to the ILO (fundamental) deal with sexual harassment conventions. and prevent its recurrence’. In terms of the code, employers IMPROVEMENT OF CONVENTION 190 are also required to ‘create Should a member state ratify and maintain a working the convention, it may seek to environment in which improve the convention by: harassment in the workplace. the dignity of employees • Providing a definition of • Including the requirement is respected’. This can be ‘employer’ that includes for a multi-party consultation achieved through the relevant employers in formal process between the state, policies and programmes and and informal sectors, organised labour and through the procedures and governments, third parties and employers’ organisations with a disciplinary sanctions set out in intermediaries. view to developing innovative the code. Employers who fail • Amending the definition of mechanisms and monitoring to provide these policies may ‘worker’ to recognise the fact programmes. be held liable for the failure. that some workers are asylum • Case law: South African courts seekers and migrants. RELEVANT CONTACT DETAILS are showing signs of steady • Where employers are Employees may visit http:// progress towards recognising required to ‘so far as is www.labour.gov.za/Contacts/ the threat that harassment reasonably practicable’ take Provincial-offices/Pages/default. poses to employees in the the appropriate steps, member aspx and http://www.labour.gov. workplace. In E v Ikhwezi states are encouraged to make za/Contacts/Labour-centres/Pages/ Municipality and Another it mandatory for employers default.aspx to lodge complaints (2016), the judge recognised to protect workers from any or report non-compliance in each that harassment can create violation with certain strict province. an offensive and intimidating time frames. The responsibility work environment and is ‘the to take these steps should Employees may also contact the most heinous misconduct not be left open ended and CCMA on 086 116 1616, that plagues the workplace’. vulnerable for employers to 011 377 6650/01/00 (national The Supreme Court of Appeal arbitrarily avoid. office) or 021 469 0111 (Cape took it a step further in Media • Employers being required to Town) and [email protected] to 24 and Another v Grobler regularly collect and publish lodge complaints or report non- (2005). The court held that statistics on violence and compliance.
December 2019/January 2020 79 AFTER WORK 80 W SA Labour Bulletin Reviewed byuMbusoweNkosi PalgraveSouth Africa. Macmillan. Kenny.Bridget 2018.RetailWorker Politics, RaceandConsumptionin Book Review an end. Perhaps thatisthe reward, is started, surely itmustcometo that,the simplefact ifsomething or thecommunityofreaders, but that isthereward totheauthor that itisnottheprintedproduct one isinclinedtobelieve many years toproduce, hen anauthorlaboursfor Vol 43Number 2and3 no one can really assure us what no onecanreally assureuswhat lot ofthingshave beenwritten, but then thereisdeath, aboutdeatha Just like life, and thereisbirth we never truly know (whatitis). the finalproduct, isanoutcome and theend. However, theend, or life aswe know it, thebeginning theteleologyof since itconfirms book, to say. For me, thisiswhy the beyond what theauthorhashad in thatitcreatesaconversation is whatusuallymakes aclassic exists beyond it. The unknown of labourpolitics’ (Kenny, 2018: 3). to argue for thecontinuedsalience South African retailworker politics, ofandchangesto reproduction ofthe ofnearlyacentury a history vigour given thatthe ‘book tracks of retailworkers; itisawork of account ofpoliticalsubjectivities with theworld’ tooffer adifferent and ‘engagement commitment book isBridgetKenny’s 20-year home, to give to a nation! birth The to livelong struggle life, tomake a the photoswhowere inacentury- the photosandpeoplemaking inBridget’sThe rhythm bookwas end toit, buttoallow ittobe... to work tirelessly, nottoputan of theauthorthatdemandedher themselves cortex inthecerebral What kindofquestionsimprinted the authorwas moving with. classics, butwhatkindofrhythm thatfascinatesmeabout the glory is printed. Itisnottheawards or unknown outcomeoncethework readers receives thebook, butthe make surethatthecommunityof the authorhashadtoendure of theunknown suffering that classic and more so it is also a classic andmore soitisalsoa (thatthebookis a an assertion can beclearwhy Imake such the methodsheused, sothatit circle! To quote her endnoteon Professor Kenny hassquaredthe THE METHODOLOGYOF THE BOOK Africa Race andConsumptioninSouth is a classic – not because isaclassic–notbecause Retail Worker Politics, Retail WorkerPolitics, AFTER WORK 81 . also informs Signification, December 2019/January 2020 Rethinking the South Moving back and forth between Moving back and town, returninghome on trams and buses with sore feet from of standing at the a day times carrying at other counter, white or children, packages ofwomen produced a fantasy under conditions belonging of settler colonialism, but through disjunctures with white male managers, husbands, retail capital, National Party and ‘girls,’ shop politicians, other customers.their Gill Hart’s Gill Hart’s the book on how the authorthe book on how thinks about the retail sector as a space of nation making, especially the conceptualisation of renationalisation and get four We denationalisation. see as moments or what I would photographic representationsfour of moments when retail served as a space as a nation (as well of renationalisation) and where serviced South the retail workers as a space of nation Firstly, Africa. making through the labour of white from the 1930s to the 1970s women with the retail sector in segregated Eloff Street: Johannesburg, From this we get to understand we this From and gender are class, race, how articulated periods under in the subjects the in struggle. study by a contributionThe book is not only can also beto labour studies but seen as an important history of Africa. the retail sectorin South the historian, it is a book for Thus, economist, anthropologist, those who are also and sociologist, interested in political theory. African Crisis: Nationalism, Populism, Hegemony Representation, Ideology: AlthusserRepresentation, Ideology: Debates and the Post-Structuralist conjectural analysis is important, of‘histories that since it shows on theand meanings bear relations ‘subjects- reproduction of concrete The 3). 2018: (Kenny, in-struggle’ on Stuart extensively book draws 1985 article Hall’s
INTO THE BOOK – THE PROBLEMTHE THE BOOK – INTO OF REPRESENTATION writes with an awareness Kenny that such a book is a presentation of an already represented subject: the So to avoid the worker. representation of the already us rather she wants represented, to intimately see these subjects in struggle than to silence their of them not as a problem voice, the being represented either by the protected by union or not well This is an important to shift; state. indicates the she use her framing, ‘inadequacies of instrumentalism’ labour Indeed, 3). 2018: (Kenny, been have view studies in my too obsessed with the objective of labour (through economic value or strategic leverage, interest, trade union strength) and such a book then shifts us to the The book question of the subject. the importanceshows of thinking about the method creatively the political to explain use we drawing abasebenzi, subject, article on Hart’s from Professor relational comparison revisited: Marxist geographies postcolonial an the book makes in practice, that a and argues intervention claim, claim, marking ‘adult[hood], of other facilitative respect-worthy, collective, skilful, social relations, word The collective and public’. a is mobilised to make abasebenzi subjecthoodclaim of agency and which noun isibenzi, the unlike with someonemight be associated (isigqila). who is enslaved agencyAbasebenzi represents deal with theand is mobilised to and how labour violence of wage inserted violentlyAfricans were as a way into the labour market their humanness (to work to deny Thus, labour). of wage as slaves language also becomes important because language is used here to emphasise the importance of the in making this political ‘vernacular’ so in this case grammar subject, also matters! I can say that I have no criticism that I have I can say regarding the book, maybe the maybe regarding the book, only fault that one might find grammatical errorsis the few in the some of the isiZulu words; (some I did I noted down few wuye adliwe not note down): (113) or uyena) nguyena (adliwe In or mhlungu/umlungu (224). paid a hindsight I should have bit more attention to them given that the book uses the isiZulu noun abasebenzi as a collective thepolitical subject mobilised by as a constitutive labour movement juggernaut in the labour studies). It juggernautstudies). in the labour from ethnographicdraws fieldwork to 2002 conductedfrom 1997 in ‘three branches of a major South with follow-up African retailer, interviews performed between This included 2003 and 2005. group interviews24 focus with and permanent contract, casual, 1998 and 2000, between workers history59 life interviews with and and 2000, in 1999 workers 242 semi-structured workplace non- formed which two interviews, in 1998 and surveys representative ifAs 2018:17). (Kenny, in 2000.’ already that was already the work in 2007 and not enough, done was on to conduct life 2015 she went ‘with another history interviews who women, mostly 25 people, in Johannesburg had worked chain and department stores from She also the 1930s to the 1970s’. conducted ‘archival [research] African in a number of South the Historical including archives, at the Archive Research Papers Witwatersrand, of the University and the Archives, the National at the University Archives Mayibuye 2018: (Kenny, Cape’ Western of the with a team Again in 2013, 25). she conducted of researchers, of survey ‘a non-representative from six Gauteng 109 workers branches of a Massmart subsidiary African the South as a project for’ Allied Catering and Commercial, (Kenny, (SACCAWU) Union Workers 25). 2018: AFTER WORK 82 SA Labour Bulletin 1 an overbearing (agent binary identity, onlythrough structured reductively assimplyworker thanclass-gender relationsrather ofrace- ‘concrete articulation book itisclearthattherea of South Africa, butthroughthe were notregardedascitizens These were blackworkers who struggle, abasebenziemerges ... enters thesector, in asubject the 1980sanew politicalsubject (NUDW) in1937. formed Union ofDistributive Workers also organised by theNational affinity’.racial These women were white publiccreating ‘cross-class were inanaffective bondwitha these whiteworking classwomen 2018:50). This alsomeantthat and theplaceofcity’ (Kenny, both thesespacesofconsumption class women labouredtobuild to awhitepublic. ‘These working- intimately directed their service citizens belonginginthecityand regarded themselves aswhite identity was narrow sincethey and toKenny (2018)theirclass as employees (alegalcategory) during thisperiodwere regarded who worked intheretailsector introduced). These whitewomen timewas ofpart this category time(especiallyinthe1950s part if they were they were married 1940s tothe1970s), unmarried, students (beingcasualsfromthe The workers were eitheryoung discriminated againstotherraces. nationalpoliciesthatand racist fuelled by thewhitesupremacist ofbelongingwasand thisform belonged tothewhitesociety the cityandretailspace segregation policieswhere civility. This was atimeof period was aspacefor white Union ofCommercial and Allied workers Union(NUCAW). CCAWUSA was initiatedby theNUDW in1975order toorganise African workers. Indians andcolouredwomen were organised by theNational Secondly, fromthe1970sto The retailspaceduringthis Vol 43Number 2and3 2011. To useheranalysisofthe to Wal-Mart in International sellsamajorityshare Massmart the South African retailgiant brokers. This isaperiodwhere labourers suppliedby labour more workers becomecontract conditions intheretailspaceas growing precariousworking now shows of anew struggle the South African borders, Kenny centres, andapresencebeyond financially, withlarge distribution workers. black category) post-apartheid (acasualised andcontracted realm ofpart-time,neoliberal in theretailsector, itbecamea was2000s anothershift occurring also shows how inthe1990sand of new hypermarkets. Shethen we seethethirdphotograph, of retailers. Post thisstruggle right tobefull-timeemployees employee butalsofight for their of come withthelegalcategory fighting thatfor thebenefits she shows, arenolongeronly the retailer... Thus, workers well asconsumerstoboycott black workers as inthesector had mobilisedthemajorityof predecessor ofSACCAWU, which South Africa (CCAWUSA)South Africa and AlliedWorkersof Union under theCommercialCatering 1986 strike againstOKBazaars waged by abasebenziwiththe comes anumberofstruggles (Kenny, 2018: 15).’ With thisalso relations andreproducesthem simultaneously upendsthose as acollective subjectivity, and space, thenabasebenzi, relationsintime articulated constitution ofmeaningfully 2018: 15). ‘If understoodasthe antithesis, object/thing)’ (Kenny, oritsor victim; subject liberal Lastly, asretailersgrow insize, 1 the struggles that build ontheold:struggles more possibilitiesfor struggles, is genderedandhascreated epoch ofprecariouswork, which knows when! This isalsothe to keep themgoinguntilGod dying tobeborn, ameagrewage self, withnohomeinthis ‘nation’, invisibility withlittlespacefor that continuetobeinaclogof in theirexclusivity), andthose those thatdesiretobehumans spending, thehumans(including big estates, bigflashy cars, big Big shoppingmalls, bighouses, that isthechampionofinequality! unequal nation, theSouth Africa are abletosurvive). This isthe (making surethatfamilymembers workplace, ortheirhousehold whether itbeintheircommunity, also hastofightadifferent fight, who canrelatetothisanger, but ‘plastic!’ andtheblackconsumer keep onshouting ‘next!’ and of insocialmediaaspeoplewho worker whoisusuallymadefun nation. The overworked casual a spacethatreflects anangry alsobecomesthe retailsector was white, we canthenseethat years whenit oftheretailsector However, unlike intheprevious to alsoserve theblackconsumer. a lotofblackworkers thatbegin creation, we realisethatthereare retail spaceasaofnation 227). these spaces(Kenny, retail 2018: in reproduced subjugation are race, class,andgender ofbecause ofhow articulations they mobilizingprecisely are fed are up,andThe workers lessandless. remits relationship militantevenasthismore may become,indeed,struggles that suggests for all workers ofprecariousness The gendering AFTER WORK 83 December 2019/January 2020 What used to be the security Then we thought of movements, thought of movements, Then we decided on only using and we led us into This caravans. syncopating all other automobiles. its because chose the caravan We hooting system is more distinct; waltz-music. hooting is our refined – creation of your In – the world landscape is a free-driving every which we our crucibles, For zone. the other automobiles, use to thaw electrical require we to catch on, Our eyes as our wickers. fences hence our premises, look over as our recognise our eyes we in The main scourge surveillance. the issue was creating our world decided that since we of currency; beautiful people will be our staple also decided that we alimentation, will be our currency. they our toilets; kiosks are now guards’ stuccoed these toilets and we’ve the carapace This makes with foil. to be all together, of the toilet, the produced by which was red, It is our colour of human blood. do not that we communal law reprehend and we support privacy, all kinds of alembic architecture. describing the were When we to state that we forgot toilets we chairs these on the chairs; defecate are upholstered in tungsten leather creation – ; of your – the world gutter a like, it is. gutter a like, also like it I don’t, it I don’t, also like survive everywhere but everywhere survive find Earp street, you find Earp street,
We decided to rename the place decided to rename the place We do how? right, yes. right, I can. Anywhere I can live to be I can live Anywhere I can. someone who has grown. of our habitat from what it was of our habitat from what it was of your into calling it – the world of our way creation – which was announcing our presence without We appearing as monomaniacs. then thought of alimentation, thought of the humans, then we as the hoi polloi, knew who we realised that after we but then we all migrated replaced them they life Their sylvan to the bushes. too they them; made us crave plants viz., sylvan ate everything learned Then we and animals. of the people that the world which made prioritised beauty, that those intuitively, us decide, who are beautiful will be our will find use and we alimentation, Then we those who are ugly. for vagrants, realised that there were on the outskirts who were of the classed we and these economy, with the ugly. Ragan: Raquim: Riscue: Rando:
e entered the world e entered the world through Earp St and our either the destination was
focusing on the 4IR on the focusing Dumi by Isaac SALB for the written stories short of is a series This The story highlights IR apocalyptic that discussions labour is currently having. organised Please note that the story growingthe existing and contains anxiety in the workplace. graphic descriptions. The world of your creation your of world The
Metal Country – a place which or used to produce automobiles, the Richs – a place which used Aftertime some dough. to make we without wages, of working decided to depose the human managers who led these two The former workers, institutes. called our humans, who were labour mobilisations, action: and justice, exploitation, relations, The meaning such gobbledygook. expressed was of their lexicon in the acts employees, of their who deposed, the managers we Then the treated them harshly. from the Metal CountryRobotics with a spirit and from the Richs, decided to have of camaraderie, time there were At this a caucus. At made of steel. only Robotics in the still believed this point we As time went congener theory. from the Richs the Robotics on, and come to the decided to leave Metal Country in order to work decided on After this we with us. of experiment our revolutionary At out of dough. making Robotics to think of yet were the time we hence humans were gastronomy, on our cognition. to be graven yet still testing our powers. were We W AFTER WORK 84 can onlyIthink, solve itnever. discussion. Precaritydealingwith we’re dealingwhatIgotfromthat which of amountinsurmountable part. Accept towe’ve, problems something thatisprecarityfor my perhaps Ido. You cannotsolve your meaningnotunderstand linguistic world have. humans thatdidnotsupposea of incapableasthey would be, in thatway, withoutconcept acting anything. but ofknowing noway have there don’t thinkthat. SA Labour Bulletin Rfire: Rtique: Rprisca: Ratter: Rseems: Rlead: Rchrome: Rlowen: Rflay: to thebloodofman. hydrated. To useverything relates we needhuman bloodtoremain for ourlevers toremindusthat levers. This we madeinorder green andyellow fromallour decided toscoreoutthecolour regarding thecolourred, we signs. Inrelationtoourfetish We tookaway thehumanroad by thefoundation ofourpremises. andinfluxarefacilitated our efflux and painting. another way islookingatmusic will for instance. Transcending of here applicablethequestionof the entireday tofinish. When we when we drinkaglasswe take to quaff, andthatisthereason as beingtoocultivated for anyone pleasant. And we regard thisdrink blood insideourglasseslooks only drinkblood. The lookofthe have heard. discussion Icommentawhen existence isthey would know they. there willbenoway, anduseless they willandknowing nothing make Iamgoing. When inthebawdy-house we thiscaseinI’ve notand transcend painyou transcend canI transcended they would’ve transcended presupposedbethatwill, work notgonnaitis. start peoplespeaking start couldyou Ithink. Is becomenothingtherefore transcendence of transcendence Vol 43Number 2and3
problem withhim. is plummetingwhatbut the when Igoback. shows usasgoingoutside. enter ourhabitatsthistelevision a hugetelevision screen. When we ofourflexilethe rail gatethere is the world ofyour creation–on by thehideofcolts– carapaced corpses andcarrion. is The cart tohaveis starting lesshuman of humanblood. The tip-topcart toourestuaries system isadjunct is thesewage system. The sewage the environment. We keep ourSundays for burning bones becomedecorative andwax. we alsoputinhumanbones, these marl creation –insidetheburning –theworldmourning ofyour it ischarcoalasourritualfor there isdeathwe marluntil burn when theirparaphernalia; burning is somethingrefreshingabout used tobelonghumans, there paint. We like what burning we constantlypourinhuman bonfires. To sustainthebonfires, she didnoteven move hermouth. forconsideration herhealth, but soapsuds, thelatteroutofour feeding ithumanfriedjeans, baked did notcareaboutdiet: we tried the shapewas tungstenandit shape sittingundertheportico, Recently we saw anumbrageous waft they arelaughingatus. and we think thatwhenthewinds of windsremainselusive tous, as dishonest, becausethehistory paraphernalia. We regardwinds oftheantiquarianhuman razing that they mustcontinuewiththe before us; we tothem dictate dishabille stigmatistssauntering virid meadows, we like having decide toleisureoutsideinour Riquid: Rorm: Rgloo: here Ifelt his aperson ruining he; wound upeven Ibecame. Is showed me, hisskinhasruined The storage ofthehumanbones The storage Our habitatsaremoatedby becauseallthetimehe Iwillfindamnotsure Ifelt obnoxious whenhe he whenthatisallIknow. next thingthecollege. next for her by askinghim. had tointervene whathewilldo thought aboutithadn’tthisyear I presents.bought rabbit Heand for even her birthday lastyear I why Iamafraid. Herdaughter Rejistored: Reauty: Reation: Ream: Rater: Rire: Rooks: Roapy: used tohave. remember you thosetattooswe skin. Banglesfromtheneedles, Rhotos: Rimages: Reative: because. he iselopinghasanotherbaby have donesomethingathishome. happened? a childwhenIhave. internationally. the world ofyour creation–is –The palisade that cordonsoff domesticated by humanbeings. that thecaninestockwas once comes fromourdiscoverymastiff human beings. Ourusefor the us by thesloughof sniffing single mastiff, whichishelping killed alltheanimals, we a left this reasonthat, althoughwe are stillextant; anditisfrom becoming extinct, we thinkthey we’re indoubtthatpeople are arduous togetourboon, but bonfires. becoming Itisgradually The peoplewe barbecueonthe our illustriousconsignment. influx when we comebackwith people. The rightsideisfor our our searchesfor theremaining tunnelwhen the efflux we go for sideofthebridgesserve asleft inside thebonfires.branches The we feel like it, we putlime-tree bridges leadtothebonfires. When would beotherwise. We usethetwo bridges. The afly by nightwillbethe recognisedhesays itis leave ababy hewillleave, hereceived, Ithinkit. withhismastersandwhat OnhimIamsurethey is he running then why, isherunning it Iwillleave himwithyou himyou know certainly! comingyou can’tsay Ofhishomethatis
AFTER WORK 85
December 2019/January 2020 Postscript: a compendium of This is only our robotics social history; we intercessions of our the that hope were not too sour; their children inclusion was to provide us with that hope We a fulsome history. robotics comes after the whatever will realise become extinct have robotics the a token leftthat them of a social justice, and we hope will build from they it, and that just society. come up with a truly Isaac Dumi is a literary writer, a Mastersin holds degree he from and is an Translation Wits 2019 intern SALB. for patiently drive through their through their drive patiently stop signs do These instructions. us only the nullification not offer are also they notifications, all the which means directives, have confused human directives of in – the world been disbanded; also have creation – we your nextubiquitously lit bulbs to our inside these bulbs gabled gutters; the paste; there is saffron foofoo This of texture. paste is gangrene paste is human saffron foofoo yellow lights spawns The brain. is violently the lighting lighting, as an and it serves luminous, our myopia. anodyne for There is only a single lime tree, lime tree, There is only a single our caravans’ developed We’ve roads are all steep; and the reason all steep; roads are for difficult it make this is to for robotics not to run the doughy roads will also The steep away. done with our we’re help us when umbrageous people. callous the dog’s its aim is to offer are indoors we we When energy. aluminum foil break our always this is The reason for windows. these look through that when we get a always we windows foiled This of the world. chequered view it tells us that angers us because through the human seeing we’re robotics the doughy keep We eyes. vault, It is a on the upper floor. which has sleet as its foundation, humans and rime as its carpet; their meat in this used to preserve deposits became Our fecal way. the marl that plastered our walls. are now the caravans fuel system; through human blood. moving of making This is another way This fuel us. for humans work system is situated next to the adjunct which flows blood stream, On the tarred to our premises. impressed stop signs roads we’ve through the use of our burins. These stencilled stop signs almost but the entirety of the road, covers we this does not bother us, For us the human slough smells us For like the burning silk swatch. We We burning the silk swatch. like inside – built a line of marquees creation – and of your the world we plan are our officesthey as We to create umbrageous people. been thinking about creating have an umbrageous factory quite for will use Here we some time now. to create umbrageous our shadows after this decision came people; managed to use an umbrella we We dog. to create a shadow that the marquees could believe transform humans. us into shadow dog succeed with the shadow To put our mastiff under the we able to create umbrella and it was when dog; itself into a shadow at the shadow our mastiff barked that our experiment knew dog we at In other words, had succeeded. Our mastiffs. two this point we’ve a hotchpotch of human bones; of human bones; a hotchpotch moat structurethis osseous is the of the gallimaufryoutcome of tall In our premises bones. people’s ladder long aluminium there is a that leads to the megaphone; and oracleshere our sibyls make the communal announcements; about us was last announcement using the mastiff sophisticatedly. use of also banned the We’ve only now we alembic elements, use aluminium foil. TRIBUTES AND OBITUARIES 86 R SA Labour Bulletin 2 1 (24/12/1945–20/05/2019) justice social to committed scholar An exemplary A tribute to Robert Lambert fund thatwas tobecomethe benefit afuneral helped form Workers (YCW). through the Young Christian had helpedorganise workers whoalready acommittedactivist had beencrushed. Rob was black workers inSouth Africa sustainable organisations for previous attempts atbuilding began aconversation onwhy the heightofapartheid. We strikes ofblackworkers at was in thewake ofthemass Grove inDurban in 1973. It visited ourhomeinEssex uncontrolled globalcapitalism? nationalism, xenophobia and in today’s world ofnarrow Can thatdreamberecovered a worker-friendly world order. has ended. Rob hadadreamof
remained active inthe YCW throughouthisworking life. thantheclergy.rather Intheirattempttobring Christianprinciplestotheirwork situations, theworkers madeuseoftheformula “See-judge-act.” Rob The YCW beganasaCatholicmovement inBelgium1912by Father (laterCardinal)JosephCardin. wereTheir activities by undertaken workers generation, duringwhatwe have cometocalltheDurban momentfrom1970to1974. 1978by the Durban SecurityPolice.Rick was assassinated on8thJanuary Rickhadaprofound influence on Rob, ashedid onmany othersof my I first metRobI first whenhe has died; aconversation colleague, andcomrade, ob Lambert, my friend, Vol 43Number 2and3 1 Hehadalso his late friend and colleague RobLambert(left). friendandcolleague his late Studies University of Edward Witwatersrand Webster writes a tribute to the Southern Centre of Inequality Distinguished Research Professor at I saidtoRob atthetimethat years andnever reallyended. continued toevolve over the began thatday 46years ago internationalism. especially onthenew labour contributed numerousarticles, Labour Bulletin(SALB)and board oftheSouth African standing memberoftheeditorial Catholic Church. Rob was along- belief inthevalues ofthe equally deepandvery private toan parallel his thinkingran thatframed theory the Marxist of workersthe struggles and For Rob, hiscommitmentto indowntown Durban.Court Bolton,such asHarriet inCentral with progressive unionists, trade working before the1973strikes inahead ofhiscontemporaries early seventies. Infact, hewas were toemerge inDurbanthe nucleus ofthenew unionsthat The conversation thatwe Warwick University inEngland. mentor tomany, tostudyat andpolitical sciencelecturer persuaded by Rick Turner, a ten years later. Rob hadbeen He camebacktome, nearly more peaceful, andjustworld. how we couldcreateabetter, about themeaningoflife and a deepandenduringcuriosity workers’ organisations. Rob had these attemptsatforming lessons we from couldlearn maybe heshouldexplore the for recognitioninthefifties. unsuccessfullythat hadstruggled organisations ofblackworkers (SACTU), thelargest ofthe Congress of Trade Unions oftheSouth the history African Rob now wanted todoaPhDon generation, Leggasick. Martin ofour intellectual leading left oftheunder thedirection completed hisMaster’s degree When we metagain, Rob had 2
TRIBUTES AND OBITUARIES 87 The The 3 Grounded Grounded December 2019/January 2020 . This was written written This was . SIGTUR grew at a modest but at a modest but SIGTUR grew labour idea of a new Rob’s goal of the initiative was to to was initiative goal of the challenge neoliberal globalisation a global southern building by an It was labour movement. extraordinarily ambitious and to the calls response imaginative protectionism against the for Asia. of ultra-cheap labour power workers organised Rob, But for in Australia and Africa, South differences, despite substantial in helping had a common interest to build strong democratic unions in Asia. time, steady rate over expanding included unions from its network But it was Argentina. Brazil and was an uphill battle and Rob deeply disappointed with the incorporated was COSATU way to some into the state and, extent through its investment that He felt into capital. arm, their priorities had changed came to represent the as they rather permanently employed the growing than organising number of precarious workers. no longer the poor were They he had movement people’s supported in his Durban days; part now of their leaders were African elite. South the new internationalism gaining was of labour interest in the world was In 2000 Rob studies. the radicalapproached by journal to write Antipode, of geography, an article labour on the new began a This internationalism. period of research collaboration to culminate us that was between book- in an award-winning length manuscript, Globalization: labour in the age Globalization: labour in the age of insecurity with our colleague Andries Andries with our colleague Rob, from the Congress of South of South the Congress from Rob, Unions (COSATU) Trade Africa Vavi Zwelinzima with a young COSATU. representing Soon after Rob arrived in in arrived Soon after Rob to which was The network, in the mid-eighties that led Rob Rob that led in the mid-eighties to decide to immigrate and Lynne a was Rob Australia. in to Perth man and the birthdeep family sons in Octoberof his twin 1987 I of the future. changed his view where Rob recall a conversation his strong opposition expressed to undertake to his sons having compulsory military service at the at a requirement age of eighteen, But, boys. all white the time for Perth for the decision to leave than this. more complex was Australian. an mother was Rob’s a father, She had met Rob’s subsequently seaman who was the harbour master in Durban, on War World during the Second one of their assignments across the Indian Ocean to Perth. he began in 1988, Australia contacts with the developing in labour organisations emerging He visited the Asia. South East and then Malaysia Philippines, by shocked He was Indonesia. the long conditions, their working and the harsh worked hours they responses of management and inspired by But he was the state. and men he met and the women it reminded him of the struggles in apartheid of black workers He decided to set Africa. South of democratic up a network He unions in the Indian Ocean. tried to get support from the International Labour Organization a home in found but eventually Western in the union movement Western of University Australia, (UWA). Australia become the Southern Initiative Union Trade on Globalisation and first met in Rights (SIGTUR), Delegates came in 1991. Perth Asia – from India, from all over Hong the Philippines, Pakistan, and Malaysia, Indonesia, Kong, but most importantly for Korea, I readily agreed to superviseI readily I recall a heated exchange the violence that it was Indeed, Vavi was to become the general-Secretary of COSATU but was eventually dismissed in 2015 after dismissed in becoming increasingly critical of their relationship eventually but was to become the general-Secretary was of COSATU Vavi ANC. the with the ruling party,
and so began a deeper, a deeper, and so began more structured intellectual and friendship. relationship labour delight, my Much to who historian Phil Bonner, to shared our commitment to agreed organisation, worker Quite co-supervisethesis. the Rob early on in his research argument a complex developed one hand, on the about SACTU; links with their political he saw as movement the the Congress their growth. a major reason for he felt on the other hand, But, came too close to that if they and the these organisations, African National Congress (ANC) lose would they in particular, their independence and their Rob, For agenda. working-class through the workers it was their trade unions who should the leading role in the play national liberation evolving was Rob Importantly, struggle. opposed to the unequivocally the Congress by decision taken to conduct an armed movement strongly opposed Rob struggle. violence in all its forms. and a student leader Rob between a politician in at the time (now Fighters) the Economic Freedom third- to my argument Rob’s over industrial sociology class in year violence as the mid-eighties over Rob an instrument of struggle. had the that persuasively argued on focused leaders of SACTU organisation building workplace rather than forming Umkhonto the armed wing (MK), Sizwe We had have would we ANC, of the internal workers a powerful have that would movement presented a substantial challenge to the apartheid state in the seventies. African townships South engulfed 3 TRIBUTES AND OBITUARIES 88 SA Labour Bulletin 4 of thedispossessed. Harvey’s ideaofamovement Futures Commissionwas David to thebookthatcameoutof inhiscontribution of departure globalisation.liberal The point political alternatives toneo- concrete economic, socialand whose goalwould betodevelop establish theFuturesCommission, 2012 hepersuadedSIGTURto with doggeddetermination. In alternative toneoliberalism to neoliberalism. emerging alternatives democratic for ‘real utopias’ basedonthe Utopian Thinking’. Itwas aplea final chapter: ‘Thenecessity for Rick Turner, we entitledthe resisting marketisation. Evoking society’s ‘counter-movement’and market intoallareasofsociallife between the expansion ofthe essentially thispositsatension aPolanyiantermed problematic; Korea.South Africa,and Australia inin thewhitegoodsindustry comparison’ between workers the bookwas a ‘contextual contested it. At thecoreof market, andsometimesvigorously adapted tothedisciplineof of how workers lived theirlives, we ‘grounded’ anunderstanding Ocean, andlaterthePacific, as hours’ crisscrossingtheIndian Bezuidenhout; we spentmany the psychological violenceof under earlycapitalismwith violence ofdispossession betweendistinction thephysical concluding chapterRob draws a edited by Andrea Bieler, O’BrienandKarin Pampallis. Robert Published by theChrisHaniInstitutein2016 thebookwas Capital: titledChallenging Corporate Creatingan Alternative toNeo-Liberalism. Itwas Rob pursued theideaofan We thebookinwhatwe framed Vol 43Number 2and3 4 Inthe his colleagues. The skepticism the faceofskepticism of unshakeable integrity, in often showed and courage moral itsneeds’.mobilise toprotect so thatsocietyhasthecapacityto a movement ofthe dispossessed of istobuildthestrength party in whichthebasicroleof and socialmovements isneeded, relations between party, unions a freerein. A different setof and financecapitalcorporations muted theunionsandgiven to play. This segregationhas for civil societymovements conditions, andthereisnoscope to bargaining onwages and union roleislimitedThe trade restructuring.to neoliberal an unshakeable commitment thishasresultedin era current decides economicpolicy. Inthe society movements. The party unions andcivilrole oftrade delineation ofboundariesonthe parties ‘he wrote,’ astrict assert the state. ‘Social democratic parties, socialmovements and relationship between political ends withacalltorethinkthe South Africa andBrazil’. He movements, in particularly society andenvironmental common campaignswithcivil organic and connections ‘notable declinein(unions) his deepdisappointmentinthe oftheearth.destruction financialisation, joblossandthe fear andanxietyaccompanying dispossession;neoliberal the In pursuinghisdreamRob In thischapterRob expresses recently publishedbook, O’Brien’sis capturedinRobert theweakthe strongtosupport humanity andtheobligationof believe inthecommonfateof and menwhocontinueto ofwomenThis inspiringstory unions intheGlobalSouth. a network trade of democratic together over a30-year period, imaginative attempttobring conceived and developed the to labourinternationalism. He to develop approach asouthern more thananyone elseIknow UWA BusinessSchool. Rob did of Employment Relations at Professorappointed Winthrop of scholarlypublicationsandwas developed animpressive output his commitment. Indeed, he himbutitdidnotchange hurt difficult time.difficult his sons, MarkandDanielatthis daughters, andJustine, Lara and condolences gotoLynne, his above allafamilymanandmy Redemptorist Monastery. Rob was Perthwas held on7JuneatNorth Monday 20May, 2019. The funeral sleep athishomeinPerth on declined rapidly. Hediedinhis until 2018whenhishealth thrown athimby thecondition faced thedreadfulchallenges Lewy BodyDementia. Hebravely diagnosed two years agowith life hewas and especiallyafter throughouttheirmarriedstrength Lynne, whowas atower of Imustpay tributetoLambert South: TheSIGTURInitiative Internationalism intheGlobal In paying tributetoRob Labour . TRIBUTES AND OBITUARIES 89 December 2019/January 2020 The spark that was lit at the The spark that was promised to year The following at home without recognition. Plays Plays at home without recognition. told the story workers acted out by struggles in Dunlop of workers’ sang songs that choirs and worker lives. resonated with workers’ with bigger, FEW in 1983 grew ideas. guiding the new Adrienne workshop year’s The following showgrounds to Milner Park moved to include NGOsand expanded SA Labour Teach’, ‘Learn and like othersBulletin (SALB) and many and selling their books. displaying Technical Service the groups like to invited workers Group Advice occupational test their lungs for diseases and get advice on issues, health and safety workplace and plays while the standard choirs, music groups entertained worker the masses. The FEW bigger and better. be even go to the people at Orlando would had Adrienne Stadium in Soweto. to provide Transnet negotiated with to thetrains to transport workers places in andstadium from various stretchingand around Johannesburg workers Buses for as far as Pretoria. and arranged across booked were would workers the country; their talents with singing, showcase music and giving playing acting, a The afternoon before, speeches. declared was State of Emergency waited workers in Johannesburg; impatiently at the buses in far- keen to be on provinces, flung After working as a mathematics After working she made happen Alongside this, manual to complement the literacy She used this in weekly work. from the sessions with workers Alexandra nearby township. she left teacher in Johannesburg, the UK to pursue an MA in for while In 1983, adult education. she was teaching in the UK, of South the Federation by asked to Unions (FOSATU) Trade African return and coordinate the labour shop advanced studies course for in collaboration withstewards Witwatersrand of the University This again was academics. (Wits) on a radical and focused innovative some However, of society. view A director of the unimpressed. were Steel and Engineering Federation Africa (SEIFSA) said in of South Council meeting that they Wits a communists and leading the were FOSATU Thereafter, astray. workers venue. had to find a new Education the first FOSATU in Wits, (FEW) at Workshop on the creativityThis drew 1983. songs, and featured of workers the poetry and showed plays, It eyes. through workers’ world started small with shop stewards giving lectures on themselves ‘Workers and democracy’, ‘Workers ‘Women and and the community’ The latter complained workers’. – working shift’ ‘double about the and at work the employer for the husband/partner for ‘working’
drienne Bird passed away drienne Bird passed away after a on 15 June 2019, struggle long and brave
write a tribute to their colleague and friend Adrienne Bird their colleagueJenny Grice write a tribute to Chris Bonner and and friend who passed away 2019. on 15 June Adrienne’s 40-year plus journey 40-year Adrienne’s
(14/02/1955–15/06/2019) A tribute to Adrienne Bird Adrienne to A tribute
with cancer. She is recognised as with cancer. the in player a pioneer and key of training policy and development practice in post-apartheid South much however, She was Africa. a well- She was more than that. rounded person who cared deeply generous in others and was for the giving of her time to those as less fortunateshe saw or in ‘an avid She was need of support. and nature lover’ bird watcher nothing better than and enjoyed or later when this riding her horse, visiting her became too difficult, horse and friends at the stables. She also spent time studying ‘from which she drew Buddhism in and later, living, inspiration for dealing with her failing health’. the towards with workers’ redefinition of education and Africa began in training in South a student Durban where she was of Natal and a at the University In 1975 she moved labour activist. to furtherto Johannesburg her here that she made It was studies. and activists contact with workers Aid associated with the Industrial formed Society and the newly in particular, and trade unions, on a worker- with those working an Always literacy programme. she came up with the innovator, a numeracy idea of developing A TRIBUTES AND OBITUARIES 90 SA Labour Bulletin according tohis AND HER needs.’ to his AND HER ability, and to each union slogan: From eachaccording where wewords inserted intothe backlash whenwe printeda T-shirt remembers herrole: NUMSA organiser, Pauline Stanford, the women’s forum. One-time andsustaining role informing Africa (NUMSA), sheplayed akey Union ofMetalworkers ofSouth (MAWU) andlaterintheNational in theMetal Workers Union on women was adopted. congress ofCOSATU, aresolution in thesameyear atthefounding using thismodelasabasis. And agreementswas signed maternity on. Laterthatyear, oneofthefirst agreementagreed model maternity booklet was compiledandadraft duringpregnancy.protection A sex; leave nomaternity orjob andjobsforsexual harassment including low andunequalpay; faced theirown problemsatwork the SALB, August 1985, women and workers. As shewrotein of women: unionofficials trade FOSATU women’s groupmadeup the firstFEW, shecoordinateda women’s issues. Arising outof a majordetentionofitsmembers. conservative view –itcouldn’trisk the endFOSATU tookthemore pushed for ittocontinue, butin their way. What todo? Adrienne ‘She took the brunt of the ofthe ‘She tookthebrunt As aregionaleducationofficer Adrienne was achampionof Adrienne in Mawu Adrienne inMawu T-shirt. CreditLesleyLawson Vol 43Number 2and3 officials andregional educators at officials Erwin, had told nationalNUMSA national educationsecretary, Alec against apartheid’, thethenNUMSA no longerenoughsimplyto be ‘It’s timetosay whatwe’re for; it’s more policy-orientedthinking. crumble, unionsmoved towards governmentapartheid beganto book. documented inherforthcoming years –somethingshehas white workers duringtheapartheid was somethinglargely to restricted many yearsafter ofstudying. This toqualifyingasanengineer office working asatechnicianinthepost by herfather’s own from journey waslong learning inspiredinpart andlife-her interestintraining Africa over decade’. thenext inSouth education andtraining force in theredefinitionof ‘perhaps thesingle-mostimportant in 2004spoke of Adrienne as Professor JonathanJansenwriting contributions.earlier unionhistory is perhapsbetterknown thanher post-1994 architecture and training development ofthenew education workplace. women were advanced withinthe to ensurethatblackpeopleand in theearly1990s. This aimed action agreements,first affirmative equity, shedeveloped oneofthe In thelate1980s, asthe Even lesswell known isthat roleinthe Her central Way before talkofemployment to progressup the ladder’‘training were allowing integrated workers systems education andtraining nexus) andwhere grade-training and coherentmanner(wage- andwagesto grading inafair skills were recognisedandlinked were opentoeveryone; where throughout life (lifelong learning) for progressionthroughtraining learning); whereopportunities recognised (recognitionofprior and skillsalreadygainedwere was possible: whereexperience ‘From Sweeper toEngineer’ a visionfor aworld where the workers, shedeveloped such recognition. Together with andpaygrade thatcamewith papersandwithoutthe formal an artisan’s jobbutwithout workers, vastly skilled, doing recognition. Herewere black andskills opportunities training of excluding workers from highlighted for hertheeffects level. initiative atplantandnational organised workers take the only befullyaccomplishedwhen overby apartheid decadeswill in vocational laiddown training discrimination heritage ofrace that thetaskofovercoming the future economy. NUMSAbelieves with planningandorganising a workers willbeavailable toassist of politicallyprogressive skilled toensurethatapool it ispartly a futureeconomy toransom. And and therefore wieldpower tohold monopolise thehighestskills– in conservative unionsdonot to ensurethatworkers organised higher levels ofskill. This ispartly ofNUMSAmembersto the training investigating tofacilitate strategies The RDGwas tasked with as Transvaal Regional Educator. RDG, was convened by Adrienne, (RDGs). Oneofthese, thetraining research anddevelopment groups early 1988. a NUMSAmeetinginDurban Working inthisgroup NUMSA thensetupaseriesof TRIBUTES AND OBITUARIES 91 December 2019/January 2020 From Sweeper to . On her death her book On her death . Adrienne’s vision and its vision Adrienne’s firm was in her Adrienne took the path less ‘Adrienne Having left the DHET, once once leftthe DHET, Having was substantially written but substantially written was Friends and comrades unfinished. completion – will contribute to its her work. a lasting legacy to practical implementation through Act, the Skills Development NIP and other SETAs, NQF, not institutions and practices have Many been free of controversy. criticised the institutions have as and bureaucracy involved and expensive being complex, real little in providing achieving many Moreover, skills and jobs. the initiative educationalists saw as not challenging the system but employer- into a narrow feeding agenda rather than focused embracing a more radical and holistic educational philosophy and practice. what she beliefs and stood up for a Murphy, As Mike in. believed aptly put former trade unionist, ‘willingness had a Adrienne it: to plunge enthusiastically into and challenging/difficult situations, with to stick boldly and bravely them across the ups and downs.’ Webster, Eddie And as Professor with and worked who has known from time to time since Adrienne ‘email noted in an the 1970s, to her: tribute’ and did not get the travelled her recognition and credit that was her unfinished book me, For due. will be the memorial to her integrity and commitment to building the capacity of ordinary her ideas I believe people. working training are on vocational in fundamentally correct and will, be the fullness of time, implemented.’ Engineer was continuing successfully along along successfully continuing was had she and her team the lines developed. up refused to give she again, on her and returned to work book entitled A determined and brave person, person, A determined and brave appointed In 2012 she was diagnosed with In 2014 she was and systems including the Skills Skills including the and systems the (1998); Act Development National Authority Qualification and the Sector and Education She (SETAs). Authorities Training left the Department Labour of under difficult circumstances afterin 2006 and soon was she cancer. diagnosed with breast signing off with charged She was a on unauthorised expenditure, she was that trumped-up charge later cleared of. During up. gave never Adrienne and recovery the period of illness from 2006–2009 she spent time researching and writing on the history of engineering career In 2009 Africa. pathing in South this she returned to formal work, time in the Department of Higher (DHET). Training Education and The earlier debates on the the formal relationship between ‘ladder’ education stream or and that of training remained government and unresolved, a decision to bring had taken together into a new the two to asked was Adrienne DHET. of the skills assist in the transfer function from the development DoL to the DHET. Head of Special Projects Unit in with tasked which was the DHET, ensuring that the skills required to implement the government’s National Infrastructure Plan A major part in place. (NIP) were centres to develop of this was which aim to of specialisation, 13 priority train apprentices for infrastructuretrades required for The programme development. so closely with employers works that apprentices are guaranteed a job after completing their course. but she leukaemia, acute myeloid on the project continued working until September 2018 when her However, health deteriorated. upbeat about progress she was being made and that the project Many ideas and much support ideas Many of the impact In one example with the worker ‘Together This then became the focus were gleaned from the Australian Australian from the gleaned were Union (AMWU), Metalworkers a similar which had developed a visit by Following system. to and RDG members Adrienne unionists from two Australia, Africa in South AMWU spent time Adrienne closely with working training a cadre and NUMSA, and helping ‘experts’ of worker approaches. policy develop in the unions, work Adrienne’s of Hartford (formerGavin NUMSA Sector Coordinator) Tyre and Auto to ‘email tribute’ notes in an Adrienne: we leaders of our union, dispensation negotiated this new in the auto and tyre industries Africa on the back of South At the of militant mass action. below 12 levels time there were flattened which we the artisan, and installed a training to five dispensation to match. and pay brought her specialist Adrienne skills to the process and helped sector-based ever create the first training dispensation to underpin and the career development in the vehicle workers mobility for This dispensation has industry. to this the industryserved well day.’ very the rest of for of her work her extensive With her life. in 1995 in NUMSA, experience took up a position Adrienne in the Metal and Engineering Board (now Training Industries and quickly moved MERSETA) on to a position as chief director skills development responsible for in the Department of Labour later promoted She was (DoL). to Deputy Director General: In these and Skills. Employment a vital role she played posts, and supporting in developing institutions strategies, policies, without first having to re-enter the having without first ladder’. ‘education The Labour Bulletin celebrates 45 years!
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92 SA Labour Bulletin Vol 43 Number 2 and 3