Cosatu at 39: Labour movement grapples with decline under ANC rule
As Cosatu marks 39 years of existence, the state of organised labour in South Africa is a far cry from its historic role in defeating apartheid. The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) has exposed deep fractures in the ANC-SACP-Cosatu Alliance, leaving the working class increasingly vulnerable to neoliberal policies
SARB’s monetary policy a tool of neo-colonial influence
Is the Bank governor’s approach to interest rates too dogmatic? Should the SARB mandate be expanded to help the country address the crisis of poverty, unemployment and inequality? Can the SARB be redeemed? the writer asks.
Salga, unions’ five-year wage deal locks workers into poverty
The municipal unions have been vocal in pointing out corruption in municipalities because when the municipal bosses run short of money as a result of poor financial management and corruption, they run to the bargaining chamber to apply for an exemption from implementing wage agreements, the writer says.
Radical African nationalism not enough to liberate the masses
Next to the ANC which disastrously lost its parliamentary majority seats, the EFF suffered the greatest loss as its 9% share of the votes was reduced to 2% in KwaZulu-Natal thus creating a crisis of viability and longevity for this once promising youthful party, the writer says.
EFF must walk the talk on youth, worker liberation
OPINION: The EFF should not play games with the political emotions and hopes of the South African youth, especially the black working-class youth. It should not raise its hopes about a future of socialism and then do what the ANC did.
ANC, EFF bromance a path to more instability
From the perspective of the working class and the poor, the question is whether the ANC-EFF coalitions that are taking South African local government by storm will indeed lead to the emancipation of the masses from all forms of exploitation and oppression.
This Budget may be the ANC’s last stand before it falls
OPINION: The crisis of the ANC as a political party, government and movement is that its failures have turned substantial sections of all classes against it.
‘Symbolic payments unlikely to change lives of miners, families’
Hundreds of thousands of black workers suffered extended exposure to silica dust when digging gold at the behest of South African mining capital.
‘Workers, unions have reached their Tambo moment’
OPINION: A strong, united public sector strike is necessary to challenge the state and to restore hope in the power of collective struggle behind a vision of social justice for all, writes Trevor Ngwane.
Collapse of e-tolls is a victory for people’s power
OPINION: South Africa is a developmental state that is tasked primarily with rolling back the injustices of the past in its quest to create a better life for all, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
Workers flex muscles as wage gap widens
OPINION: It is no exaggeration to say that the economy was on the brink of implosion, including the spectre of empty shelves in supermarkets this festive season, billions of profits lost by mining and agricultural exporters of primary goods, shortages of petrol and aviation fuel, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
Working class lodestar now a shadow of itself
OPINION: It is time to fight for a new Cosatu, a new union movement that is militant, democratic, based on the needs of the working class, worker-controlled and independent of ANC capitalist politics, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
Mining bosses must be held accountable for dam disaster
OPINION: We will accept no more excuses, Mr Mantashe. Now is the time to put social justice and climate justice to the fore. And profits to the rear, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
SA struggle songs must move the nation forward
OPINION: Freedom of speech and the preservation of historical memory emerged victorious in the court battle between AfriForum and the EFF, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
Marikana injustice stains democracy
OPINION: The Spirit of Marikana is the determination, organisation and collective action of ordinary working-class people fighting for their needs, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
Unemployment in SA: No lifeboats for the poor as the Titanic sinks
OPINION: South Africa, more than any other country in the world, is unlikely to create jobs in the foreseeable future. The Titanic is going down, and the first-class passengers are hoarding the lifeboats for themselves, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.
A message of truth to the black working-class youth of today
We tell you that you are free, that we fought to make you free, but your life and your eyes tell you something else, writes Dr Trevor Ngwane.