Breaking the chains of capitalism
and apartheid-or selling out the workers?
|Peter Mokaba attacks socialism
The Black working class fought for years against apartheid racism
and against capitalist exploitation. We knew that socialism under
workers control is the only road.
We expect anti-socialist talk from racist bosses who lived off our
sweat and blood under the apartheid regime. But it is still a shock
to hear the same nonsense from the mouth of a comrade who fought in
the struggle.
THE NEW BOSSES
Peter Mokaba - formerly of ANC Youth League (ANC-YL), now on the
ANC NEC (executive) and Deputy Minister of Tourism - was once seen as
a radical fighter against apartheid.
But since 1994, Mokaba has become conservative, openly siding with
capitalism and the bosses. Despite occasionally radical talk, Mokaba
has not even opposed the government's free market policy -the
so-called "GEAR"- or supported this year's COSATU mass action.
He is the latest in a long line of African leaders who turn
against the masses once in power.
ANTI-COMMUNISM
Mokaba says the SA Communist Party should leave the Triple
Alliance (ANC-SACP-COSATU). Mokaba has accused the SACP of
manipulating ANC, and of being anti-capitalist.
In a discussion paper circulating within the ANC, he states that
the ANC is a "national liberation movement and not a socialist
organisation'' whose goal is not and never has been to ``destroy the
capitalist class and establish socialism''.
Instead, Mokaba says the ANC has a "duty'' to create the
conditions for the emergence and development of black capitalists.
The ANC's strategic programme has "always" been making South Africa a
"vibrant and democratic, prosperous and non-racial capitalism".
TIGER MEAT
For Mokaba, the ideal models are the Asian capitalist countries
like Malaysia. What he doesn't say is that while these countries have
big economies, they are based on the brutal repression of the
workers.
Is this freedom? We have suffered under racist-capitalism for so
long now, but this man wants us to work like slaves and build profits
for rich bloodsucking capitalists?
The bosses are pleased enough. The October 24 Financial Mail
praised the "growing acceptance of capitalism in the upper echelons
of the ANC", noting that "Mokaba is merely declaring openly what
others are still too scared to say publicly''. At present the ANCYL
is part of a consortium bidding for two privately run prisons.
SACP
Cronin and Blade Nzimande of SACP are right when they say Mokaba
"is quite wrong to believe that giving a few black capitalists the
chance also to exploit workers is going to be the dynamo for
transformation". Capitalism is based on exploiting the workers- it is
the enemy, not the solution. Capitalism caused racism- it is the
enemy of Black workers!
The SACP leaders also say Mokaba is ``arguing ... for the
conversion of the ANC into a party of free market capitalism''.
Mokaba has replied in Tribute magazine "the ANC is exactly that" and
that "socialism is dead internationally".
Sadly, it is Mokaba is well informed. The ANC has repeatedly
supported capitalism, and has promoted many anti-worker policies
since coming into power.
These include the so-called GEAR, arrests of strikers,
privatisation and closure of hospitals like Hillbrow. It is foolish
to promote any more illusions that the ANC will build socialism. This
will never happen.
We must realise- ONLY THE WORKERS CAN FREE THE WORKERS. The
solution is not trusting the politicians, or relying on the
government. We simply cannot trust any politicians. The workers
solution is to build up the trade unions, take mass action and one
day - a day that is coming - overthrow the bosses and the politicians
and run the land and factories. PHANSTI CAPITALISM!
VIVA WORKERS CONTROL!
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