[WSMDiscuss] Fwd: Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party launched in South Africa

[Jai Sen]

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

South Africa in movement…, Workers in movement…

Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party launched in South Africa

Over a thousand gathered in Johannesburg to attend the Launch Congress of the Party which seeks to build socialism in South Africa

Rafael Stedile

How Irvin Jim’s new party plans to hit the ANC where it hurts

Right in the worker base

Irvin Jim, general secretary of South Africa’s largest trade union – the 370,000-member-strong National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) – is the new chairperson of the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP)

Brian Sokutu, Citizen

Numsa party can end poverty, plans to nationalise the Reserve Bank first

Andile Sicetsha <https://www.thesouthafrican.com/author/andile/>
            Thanks for this news and for the compilation, Patrick.

            JS

fwd

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Patrick Bond <pbond at mail.ngo.za>
> Subject: [Debate-List] (Fwd) SRWP update: launch last weekend
> Date: April 9, 2019 at 2:27:51 PM EDT
> To: DEBATE <debate-list at fahamu.org>, "progeconnetwork at googlegroups.com" <progeconnetwork at googlegroups.com>

(Lots more here: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSRWP/ <https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSRWP/> and a video news report here: https://www.enca.com/news/jim-elected-workers-party-leader <https://www.enca.com/news/jim-elected-workers-party-leader> 

    And the leader list: 

National Chairperson                    : Irvin Jim
Deputy National Chairperson        : Moleko Phakedi
General Secretary                        : Oupa Ralake
Deputy General Secretary            : Vashna Jagarnath
National Treasurer                        : Andile Zitho) 
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/04/06/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-launched-in-south-africa/ <https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/04/06/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-launched-in-south-africa/>
Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party launched in South Africa

Over a thousand gathered in Johannesburg to attend the Launch Congress of the Party which seeks to build socialism in South Africa

April 06, 2019 <https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/04/06/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-launched-in-south-africa/> by Rafael Stedile <https://peoplesdispatch.org/author/rafael-stedile/>, Zoe PC <https://peoplesdispatch.org/author/zoe/>
Delegates at the Launch Congress of the Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party. Photo: Rafael Stedile
“Equality, work and land” is the slogan of the new radical political party in South Africa that seeks to revolutionize South African politics and contest elections this coming May. The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) held its launch congress from April 4-6 in Johannesburg, South Africa with attendance from over a thousand of the party’s militants and cadre from distinct provinces from across the country, as well as international guests from countries such as Zambia, Argentina, Brazil, Sweden, Morocco, and Nepal.

The Congress was dedicated to “Fieldmore” Mapeto Baldwin Langa, a member of NUMSA, who passed in August 2018. Fieldmore was a lifelong communist and internationalist, when he was just 17 he joined uMkhonto weSizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress during the anti-apartheid struggle. Fieldmore was forced into exile and on his return to South Africa in 1994, he became a key activist and intellectual in NUMSA and was central to the union’s political education program.

The party stated in its dedication: “With the revolutionary spirit of Fieldmore Mapeto alive in us all, today we commit ourselves to the long and winding road of class struggle as we launch the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party. We openly declare for all the world to know that we as Socialists are committed to building the organization of a revolutionary working class. A class aware of its own interests. A class that will overthrow the capitalist parasites. A working class that will seize power for the project of building Socialism, in which no human will be exploited by another.”

During the three days of work, delegates heard from different members of the Interim Working Committee of the Party such as the convenor of the SRWP, Irvin Jim <https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/01/29/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-vows-to-resist-south-african-governments-privatization-move/>. In his address, Jim remarked on the path that brought them where they are today and why the creation of this party today in South Africa is so essential.

Delegates were reminded that in 2012, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), sparked by the atrocities of the Marikana Massacre, began to chart a new course in South African politics. NUMSA left the African National Congress (ANC)-Led Alliance and embarked on a process to form an independent trade union federation as well as a Workers’ Party.

In 2017, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) was officially launched with over 700,000 members and in April 2018 they held one of the largest national strikes in South Africa’s recent history demanding just labor laws and an increase to the national minimum wage.

In 2018, the goal of creating a workers’ party was also fulfilled. The party was officially registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa in September and in December 2018, the first national meeting <https://peoplesdispatch.org/2018/12/26/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-gives-a-call-to-defeat-capitalism-imperialism/> of the newly formed SRWP in Johannesburg South Africa on December 14 and 15.

On the second day of work, the delegates split up into different commissions to work on the different issues of the political platform including (education, health, housing, work, etc.), as well the different founding documents of the party.

The SRWP will emerge from this Launch Congress with a political platform, a constitution, a manifesto debated on and defined by its grassroots, as well as elected authorities of the party. They plan to contest the upcoming elections and are certain that the South African working class is ready for a party that promises to upturn the current capitalist system that has made so many South Africans suffer.

NUMSA President Andrew Chirwa addressed the Congress and stated: “This is not a party for reform. This is a party for communists. We are serious about the Revolution. We are a party for SOCIALISM and nothing else”.

Photos by Rafael Stedile

***

How Irvin Jim’s new party plans to hit the ANC where it hurts 

by Brian Sokutu, Citizen
Right in the worker base. 

Irvin Jim, general secretary of South Africa’s largest trade union – the 370 000-member strong National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) – is the new chairperson of the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP).

Jim accepted the nomination for the position over the weekend at the end of the three-day inaugural SRWP congress attended by more than 1,000 delegates.

They included representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia, Zambia, Namibia, Sweden, Spain, the US and Nepal.

Also serving on the leadership structure’s central committee, tasked with growing membership, refining policies and the new party’s constitution, is Numsa national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola.

The SRWP, which is expected to dent the ANC’s worker support base, is contesting the May 2019 national polls.

The SRWP enjoys the support of Zwelinzima Vavi’s fledgling South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) with 531,000 members.

According to Jim, the decision to launch a workers’ party was taken at Numsa’s special congress in 2013 – triggered by unhappiness with the ANC government “not taking up worker issues”.

Jim has described Cosatu’s role within the alliance as that of “rubber-stamping ANC right-wing policies”, which he claims will include the sale of state assets amid the unbundling of Eskom.

The SRWP has resolved to determine “a living wage” for its MPs, with a percentage of earnings going to party coffers, similar to the levies imposed by the EFF on its representatives.

Some of the wide-ranging, pro-working class resolutions adopted by the SRWP congress

Members serving on its national leadership should not be appointed to parliament or Cabinet.
Party membership eligibility should be open from the age of 14, with socialist programmes taking place during school holidays.
All the party’s cadres should undergo rigorous political training, sign a code of conduct and go through a 60-day induction programme.
Online, community and the mainstream media should be used to reach out to potential members.
A single education system for all South Africans should be created, eliminating private schools. Agricultural studies should be taught from primary school right up to the higher levels.
The ministry of education should be depoliticised by following a process similar to that of the public protector in appointing the minister. This will ensure “the minister does not carry political party baggage”.
The troubled National Student Financial Aid Scheme should be scrapped and be replaced by “free and decolonised education”.
Government’s tender system and broad-based black economic empowerment should be abolished. This should be replaced by new legislation to curb fronting.
Labour brokers should be done away with.
– brians at citizen.co.za <mailto:brians at citizen.co.za>
***



Numsa party can end poverty, nationalise the Reserve Bank first

SRWP's main focus, as it rolls out its manifesto, is to nationalise the reserve bank.

 by Andile Sicetsha <https://www.thesouthafrican.com/author/andile/>
2019-04-05 13:04 <https://www.thesouthafrican.com/numsa-party-end-poverty-nationalise-reserve-bank/>
in News <https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/>
The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party is launching its election manifesto / 

The Socialist Revolutionary Workers’ Party (SRWP) is launching its election manifesto from Friday, and one of its key focus areas in eradicating unemployment and poverty is by nationalising the South African Reserve Bank.

As reported by EW <https://ewn.co.za/2019/04/05/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-to-lobby-for-sarb-to-be-nationalised>N <https://ewn.co.za/2019/04/05/socialist-revolutionary-workers-party-to-lobby-for-sarb-to-be-nationalised>, The newly-formed party was born out of the ranks of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa). 

Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party launches its manifesto

Since the trade union was expelled from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), it has gained traction as a stand-alone entity, surviving outside of the all-powerful tripartite alliance.

The man who convenes the highest seat in the party, Irvin Jim, has been very vocal about the newly-formed party’s ambitions. According to Jim, its short-term plans include:

winning more seats in Parliament than Julius Malema’s EFF;
getting more unemployed South Africans in secure and good-paying jobs;
restructuring personal income tax to be directly proportional to earnings.
eradicating poverty and unemployment in five years or less; and
nationalising the reserve bank.
Jim, in an attempt to drive his party’s message home, ridiculed the slogan of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign,  <https://ewn.co.za/2019/04/04/jim-calls-on-unemployed-citizens-to-vote-for-his-party>Thuma Mina <https://ewn.co.za/2019/04/04/jim-calls-on-unemployed-citizens-to-vote-for-his-party>.  <https://ewn.co.za/2019/04/04/jim-calls-on-unemployed-citizens-to-vote-for-his-party>
He noted that a billionaire could not be the voice of the voiceless because he is out of touch with the people’s needs.

“A billionaire, he’s got guts to say to the working class, ‘send me’. If I were to be honest, for me, that call by Cyril Ramaphosa is extremely irritating and insulting.” he said.

Why political parties want to nationalise the Reserve Bank

The party believes that nationalising the central bank will be key in realising a South Africa with a high employment rate. 

South Africa’s Reserve Bank is one of few central banks in the world that has private shareholders. 

The bank has over 261 000 shares split between more than 600 private shareholders, with Parliament only able to function in a supervisory role within the spectrum.

Read – ANC wants to expand Reserve Bank into public share scheme <https://www.thesouthafrican.com/anc-expand-reserve-bank-public-share-scheme/>
Many of these shares are owned by people who do not reside in South Africa, the majority shareholder being Michael Duerr, a German with a 57.5% ownership stake in the central bank.

The ANC and the EFF have always pushed for amendments to the Reserve Bank Act. 

Ironically, the SRWP’s sentiments are directly synonymous with that of its counterparts, who apparently “annoy and irritate” Jim.

Alas, the newly-formed party has identified this as one of its more critical reform ideologies. 

Thus, its manifesto will be rolled out with ownership of the central bank as its key message.


***

https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/48155/South+Africa+birth+of+a+party+that+says+it+stands+for+revolution <https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/48155/South+Africa+birth+of+a+party+that+says+it+stands+for+revolution>
South Africa—birth of a party that says it stands for revolution

by Allen Goatley, Keep Left (South Africa) 
 <https://socialistworker.co.uk/images1412/Image/srwp2_web.jpg>
The conference brought together over 1,000 delegates (Pic: @OfficialSRWP <https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSRWP/> on Facebook)

The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) has been formally launched in South Africa <https://socialistworker.co.uk/tag/view/231>.

Over 1,000 delegates from its many branches assembled in Johannesburg heeding the call to build “a party that is not a militant version of the ANC”. The party says, “We stand for revolution—we are for socialism”.

The SRWP declared that it is a “Marxist-Leninist vanguard party”. It adds, “We openly declare for all the world to know that we as socialists are committed to building an organisation of a revolutionary working class that will seize power for the project of building socialism, in which no human will be exploited by another.”

The launch of the party was spearheaded by the National Union of Metal Workers (Numsa). Numsa broke from its traditional home, the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance which involves the Communist Party and the Cosatu union federation, after the Marikana massacre <https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40846/Marikana+massacre+inquiry%3A+The+truth+behind+the+cover+up> of 2012.

This saw 34 striking miners killed by an elite police unit.

 <https://socialistworker.co.uk/images1412/Image/swrp1_web.jpg>
Party supporters want to go beyond the politics of the ANC (Pic: @OfficialSRWP <https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSRWP/> on Facebook)

When Numsa broke from backing the ANC, it was expelled from Cosatu for its outspoken criticism of the then state president Jacob Zuma and corruption <https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/46137/Life+in+South+Africa+after+a+decade+of+Zuma+interview+with+Ronnie+Kasrils>. 

Previously strong supporters of the South African Communist Party, Numsa vowed at the time to build a new workers’ party.

For three days last week, delegates debated the founding documents of the new party. Members warned against building a party leadership separated from its base.

The party promised South Africa “nothing but class struggle” and has entered national elections set for 8 May with the slogan of “Equality, work and land”. 

Late into the game of elections, the party has a lot of work ahead of it to gain votes. It hopes to win some MPs but says “participation in parliament is not a destination but rather a tactic to expose the limitations of bourgeois democracy and to communicate with the masses”.

Keep Left calls for a vote for the SRWP. But the real test for the party will be after the elections.

 <https://socialistworker.co.uk/images1412/Image/irvin_jim_web.jpg>
Party convenor Irvin Jim with delegates (Pic: @OfficialSRWP <https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSRWP/> on Facebook)

It will have to show its relevance in the day to day struggles of workers and the poor. It will need to act as a lever to increase people’s confidence in their own ability through mass action to defeat the daily divisive attacks that capital launches against them.

We have at present a rising tide of xenophobia in the country spurred on by the statements of some government officials and right wing parties that “foreigners” are taking up too many beds in hospitals, are taking jobs away from locals and are responsible for a rising crime wave in the country.

The SRWP will need to wade in heavily against this and use its influence in the trade union movement to mobilise workers against xenophobia.

At present the party is dominated by Numsa members. It needs to open the gates. 

Many excellent community and trade union activists are justifiably suspicious of party formations. To overcome this the SRWP will need to show respect for democracy, differences and minority views.

South Africa urgently needs a party of struggle and socialism.


***




Fighting for a classless society – SRWP

Vuyolwethu Toli | 
09 April 2019 
Party says genuine democracy can only be realised when total power rests in the hands of the working class
SRWP Statement on the Party leadership

8 April 2019

This weekend, from the 4th-6th April 2019, more than 1000 delegates of the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party met to attend the Launch Congress of the Party, at Birchwood, in Ekurhuleni South Africa. The main objectives of the Congress included among others, the adoption of the SRWP Draft Manifesto and Constitution, and to elect the leadership of the Party.

The SRWP is a Marxist-Leninist Party fighting for the establishment of a classless society. Our primary objective is to organize and unite the working class by raising the levels of consciousness, around the class divisions in society. We are in a struggle to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a democratic Socialist state.

The congress began with clear articulations of the struggles facing the working class today, a review of the State of Party Building and discussions around core ideological positions. The second day focused on delegate breakaway work in commissions that were tasked with critically engaging a specific area of concern, and developing resolutions to the burning questions affecting the working class today. These commissions laid a firm foundation for a roadmap towards Socialism.

The congress also sought to cast our sights on the histories of those revolutionaries who sought to eliminate the system of capitalism that lives off the exploitation and the suffering of the many, for the benefit of the few. As SRWP, we stand on the shoulders of revolutionary giants, and we are inspired by the communist ideas of revolutionaries such as Karl Marx, Alexandra Kollontai, VI Lenin, Claudia Jones, Fieldmore Mapeto, Ruth First, Mbuyiselo Ngwenda, Chris Hani, and many more revolutionaries who fought resolutely in the interest of the working class.

Revolutionary salutations were given to Comrade Fieldmore Mapeto, a Marxist Leninist, internationalist communist who fought against capitalism and imperialism throughout the world. Fieldmore passed away on the 16th August 2018. He was a member of uMkhonto weSizwe and fought against the brutal Apartheid government, and, he was one of the founding members of the SRWP. In recognition of the enormous contribution he made to the working class, we dedicated the congress to him. As a revolutionary socialist organization, we recognize that building working class socialist internationalism is central to the struggle for a classless society, and as SRWP, we are committed to fighting for a socialist South Africa, Africa, and world.

From the congress plenary, there was robust debate about how to build consensus on the question of leadership. As part of our commitment to genuinely democratic processes of leadership election, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa(EISA) was present to assist with the electoral process. The election results, of the core leadership, are as follows:

National Chairperson                    : Irvin Jim

Deputy National Chairperson        : Moleko Phakedi

General Secretary                        : Oupa Ralake

Deputy General Secretary            : Vashna Jagarnath

National Treasurer                        : Andile Zitho

The congress agreed to endorse the nominations of 30 women and men to lead the Central Committee, which is the highest decision-making structure second to Congress.

The congress also resolved to pursue the goals for a socialist revolution in South Africa.

Genuine democracy can only be realized when total power rests in the hands of the working class - economic, political, social, and cultural power.

“A united working class can never be defeated!”

Equality. Work. Land.

VOTE SRWP.

Issued by Vuyolwethu Toli, Acting Spokesperson, Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party, 8 April 2019



______________________________

Jai Sen

Independent researcher, editor

jai.sen at cacim.net <mailto:jai.sen at cacim.net>
Now based in New Delhi, India (+91-98189 11325) and in Ottawa, Canada, on unceded Anishinaabe territory (+1-613-282 2900) 

Current associations : www.cacim.net <http://www.cacim.net/> / http://www.openword.net.in

CURRENT / RECENT publications :

Jai Sen, ed, 2018a – The Movements of Movements, Part 2 : Rethinking Our Dance. Ebook and hard copy available at PM Press <http://www.pmpress.org/>
Jai Sen, ed, 2018b – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ?, Indian edition. New Delhi : AuthorsUpfront, in collaboration with OpenWord and PM Press.  Hard copy available at MOM1AmazonIN <https://www.amazon.in/dp/9387280101/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522884070&sr=8-2&keywords=movements+of+movements+jai+sen>, MOM1Flipkart <https://www.flipkart.com/the-movements-of-movements/p/itmf3zg7h79ecpgj?pid=9789387280106&lid=LSTBOK9789387280106NBA1CH&marketplace=FLIPKART&srno=s_1_1&otracker=search&fm=SEARCH&iid=ff35b702-e6a8-4423-b014-16c84f6f0092.9789387280106.SEARCH&ppt=Search%20Page>, and MOM1AUpFront <http://www.authorsupfront.com/movements.htm>
Jai Sen, ed, 2017 – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ?.  New Delhi : OpenWord and Oakland, CA : PM Press.  Ebook and hard copy available at PM Press <http://www.pmpress.org/>
Jai Sen, ed, 2016a  – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ? and Jai Sen, ed, 2016b – The Movements of Movements, Part 2 : Rethinking Our Dance (both then forthcoming from New Delhi : OpenWord and Oakland, CA : PM Press), open access ADVANCE PREFINAL ONLINE MOVEMENT EDITIONS @ www.cacim.net <http://www.cacim.net/>
SUBSCRIBE TO World Social Movement Discuss, an open, unmoderated, and self-organising forum on social and political movement at any level (local, national, regional, and global).  To subscribe, simply send an empty email to wsm-discuss-subscribe at lists.openspaceforum.net <mailto:wsm-discuss-subscribe at lists.openspaceforum.net>
______________________________

Jai Sen

Independent researcher, editor

jai.sen at cacim.net <mailto:jai.sen at cacim.net>
Now based in New Delhi, India (+91-98189 11325) and in Ottawa, Canada, on unceded Anishinaabe territory (+1-613-282 2900) 

Current associations : www.cacim.net <http://www.cacim.net/> / http://www.openword.net.in

CURRENT / RECENT publications :

Jai Sen, ed, 2018a – The Movements of Movements, Part 2 : Rethinking Our Dance. Ebook and hard copy available at PM Press <http://www.pmpress.org/>
Jai Sen, ed, 2018b – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ?, Indian edition. New Delhi : AuthorsUpfront, in collaboration with OpenWord and PM Press.  Hard copy available at MOM1AmazonIN <https://www.amazon.in/dp/9387280101/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522884070&sr=8-2&keywords=movements+of+movements+jai+sen>, MOM1Flipkart <https://www.flipkart.com/the-movements-of-movements/p/itmf3zg7h79ecpgj?pid=9789387280106&lid=LSTBOK9789387280106NBA1CH&marketplace=FLIPKART&srno=s_1_1&otracker=search&fm=SEARCH&iid=ff35b702-e6a8-4423-b014-16c84f6f0092.9789387280106.SEARCH&ppt=Search%20Page>, and MOM1AUpFront <http://www.authorsupfront.com/movements.htm>
Jai Sen, ed, 2017 – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ?.  New Delhi : OpenWord and Oakland, CA : PM Press.  Ebook and hard copy available at PM Press <http://www.pmpress.org/>
Jai Sen, ed, 2016a  – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ? and Jai Sen, ed, 2016b – The Movements of Movements, Part 2 : Rethinking Our Dance (both then forthcoming from New Delhi : OpenWord and Oakland, CA : PM Press), open access ADVANCE PREFINAL ONLINE MOVEMENT EDITIONS @ www.cacim.net <http://www.cacim.net/>
SUBSCRIBE TO World Social Movement Discuss, an open, unmoderated, and self-organising forum on social and political movement at any level (local, national, regional, and global).  To subscribe, simply send an empty email to wsm-discuss-subscribe at lists.openspaceforum.net <mailto:wsm-discuss-subscribe at lists.openspaceforum.net>
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