It is Governments
responsibility to create a stable labour environment where people contribute
positively to economic growth.
This also applies to the
broader society. South
Africa needs a climate and culture where
people know that their needs are important to Government; that their needs are addressed
in a professional manner; that violence has damaging effects on people, property
and the economy; and that violence will not be tolerated.
Critical incidents like
the Sasolburg violence, Marikana massacre and farm worker strike in the Western Cape , paint a
picture of instability with substantial property and economic damage.
To what extent would
the apparent failure to build a positive society and labour environment,
combined with the ANC’s seemingly life time commitment to revolution, pave the
way for a culture of violence?
What role does typical
ANC rhetoric play in “preparing the ground” for violence?
· (23*)
Consider the ANC’s views on transformation from capitalism to socialism; the
role revolution will play and the “utopia” this will bring about for the
workers class.
· Add
to this a working class well
informed on ANC views and revolutionary rhetoric, such as: (24*)
People’s power will entail a democratic revolution of a new type, in which the
interests of the working people, of town and countryside, will be pre-eminent.
The Freedom Charter projects the seizure of economic assets presently owned
either by South African capitalist firms or trans-national corporations”.
· This ANC’s revolutionary rhetoric is repeated over
and over in speeches and statements, but people see no clear results. They will
at some or other time become disgruntled and highly frustrated with the lack of
progress.
Violence could be a natural reacting in a country obsessed
with revolution, war, struggle and unfulfilled promises.
Put these
together and it could result in a dangerous cumulative effect i.e. a culture
where violence is the natural and only reaction to dissatisfaction of
any kind.
Violence has reached an all-time
high in South Africa .
(23*) Wikipedia reports that 2012
was “the most protest filled year in the country since the end of apartheid”.
(25*) City Press mentions that the country is
set to record “the highest number of delivery-linked protest since 1994”. It
quotes National Police spokesman Colonel Vishnu Naidoo to say: “372 protests
related to service delivery had been recorded between January and the end of
May 2012”
In addition to an increase in numbers,
“ordinary” strikes and protests tend to turn into revolution and war.
To open the media sources hold "CTRL" key and click on the shortcut.
(23*) National Democratic
Revolution -- ANCYL Political Education Manual http://www.google.co.za/url?q=http://www.ancyl.org.za/docs/political/2009/NDR%2520Presentationb.pdf&sa=U&ei=QoCvUOOyHIuGhQeg0IG4Dw&ved=0CBQQFjAA&sig2=oK_BNB9D9OdrNfW59beo9g&usg=AFQjCNGDm-FqziG398_FThuWqxoNNOl3Hg
(24*) African National Congress -- “The
Nature of the South African Ruling Class”
or
(25*) City Press – Study finds
protest are spiraling
An evaluation of following three incidents,
could pass light on whether South
Africa already has a culture of violence?
(Notice the “war talk” in some of the
incidents)
·
Sasolburg – January 2013
(26*)
Mail and Guardian sketches a picture of destruction: “Protesters,
primarily from Zamdela informal settlement barricaded streets, torched vehicles
and government property and pelted bystanders. Shops and businesses closed
their doors, schools suspended classes and the local Sasol plant suspended
operations indefinitely in response to the protests.” Protesters even tried to
burn down the local police station.
The following videos paint a picture of utter chaos,
disorder, unruliness, and lack of discipline and respect for private property:
To open the media sources hold "CTRL" key and click on the shortcut.
Click on shortcut to view video: Sasolburg
hit by violent clashes
(27) Video -- The South Africa.com –
Sasolburg hit by violent clashes http://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/sasolburg-hit-by-violent-clashes-over-demarcation-plans.htm
(26*) Mail and
Guardian -- Municipal merger on hold after violent Sasolburg protests http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDIQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmg.co.za%2Farticle%2F2013-01-22-municipal-merger-on-hold-after-violent-sasolburg-protests&ei=mfn_UOn7L8TZsgavkIHwAw&usg=AFQjCNFiFK429G38z_a3RqtIPiNu85e0ww&sig2=uxgIIuew7DOgNmL0A6mrgw
·
Western Cape Farm
Strikes – January 2013
This strike aimed at better
salaries, but political motives and war talk featured strongly and ANC
revolutionary rhetoric was common.
(28*) MNet’s Carte Blanche
broadcast quotes Cosatu’s Provincial President to say: “Even if the workers lose this battle
around real wages now, the bigger war for an end to apartheid practices
on farms, will continue."
A community leader remarked: "I think
there is a revolution starting... and it is the revolution of the
peasant”.
Hold CTRL and Click
on shortcut to view: Vineyards Blazing
(28*) Video -- Carte Blanche
-- Vineyards Blazing http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeta.mnet.co.za%2Fcarteblanche%2F&ei=E67_UPO9MNCxhAeEq4CQCQ&usg=AFQjCNHUBFPtCsOUXqqugUfvMEYF4DRCmQ&sig2=wKSU9wUSBPA4bke0Bcihsw
The farm strike cost farmers and South Africa
millions. Strikers and those organizing it apparently never considered any adverse
consequences for farmers, the country and themselves.
Hold CTRD and Click on shortcut to
view: Western Cape Farm Strikes
(29*)
Video -- ABNDigital -- Western Cape
Farm Strikes
·
The Marikana/Lonmin strike – August 2012
(30*) The violence accompanying this strike resulted in the shooting and
killing of approximately 47 miners, with at least 78 additional workers
injured. The “Marikana massacre”
as people call it, was the single most lethal use of force by South African
security forces against civilians since 1960, and the end of the apartheid era.
(31*) News International reports that: “Radical politician Julius Malema
called for a national strike, telling the miners: “You must put down the tools
and stop production. This is a serious
revolution” he said.
Malema is linked to upheavals at
mines in North West and on the West Rand . It includes the operational stalemate at
Lonmin's Marikana mine following the massacre; the shutting down of Anglo
Platinum operations at its Thembelani mine in Rustenburg; the wildcat strike at
Goldfields in Carletonville; and the threat by mineworkers around Rustenburg to
shut down the mines”.
Senior ANC youth league figures
allege that Julius Malema is being helped by ANC backers to foment his "mining
revolution."
The
nature of future strikes and protests will be the final determining factor to decide:
Where does South Africa
stand in terms of a culture of violence?
To open the media sources hold "CTRL" key and click on the shortcut
(30*) Wikipedia -- Marikana miners' strike http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMarikana_miners'_strike&ei=l8T_UInzDPCq0AXolYHwDA&usg=AFQjCNF7xfkQvYarc9N9_0rh9J33ADIKEQ&sig2=Cdd9u8mVSUx0gTsa-qfWCg
(31*) News International -- Mangaung
Massacre
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