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Title: Winnie’s dismissal Author: Workers’ Solidarity Federation Date: 1995 Language: en Topics: South Africa Source: Retrieved on 29th October 2021 from http://struggle.ws/africa/wsfws/1_1winnie.html Notes: Published in Workers Solidarity Number 1 May/June 1995.
In April, Winnie Mandela, Deputy Minister of Arts, Technology and
Culture was dismissed from the Government of National Unity. Winnie was
one of the so- called “populists” in the ANC.
She is well- known for her criticisms of the gravy train and of the
ANC’s failure to deliver on its promises. This was why she was freed,
and not because she was “undisciplined” or “corrupt”.
But who was behind the attack? The capitalist press had a field day
trying Winnie, just as it had when similar charges were placed against
Peter Mokaba. The racist NP also jumped on the band wagon.
Because of this, some believe that the bosses want to attack and
discredit Winnie (and the ANC) before the local elections. It has even
been suggested that the bosses’ newspapers are trying to dictate to the
ANC government.
But the truth is that the ANC never defended Winnie against these
attacks. It was the ANC who led the offensive. Winnie was a thorn in the
ANC’s side. She was an embarrassment who was “undisciplined” enough to
condemn the fact that the ANC Ministers and MPs had achieved nothing in
their period of office, except enrich themselves from the state coffers.
The ANC was purging the populists.
The idea that the bosses are somehow scared of the ANC and want to
undermine it before the local elections is ridiculous. The ANC has
proved a loyal defender of the bosses against workers struggle. Rocky
Malebane Metsing’s claim that the capitalists were trying to undermine
the so- called “national- democratic revolution” is just laughable.
We do believe that other GNU ministers like de Klerk are more worthy of
dismissal. De Klerk and his cronies in the NP are guilty of large-scale
terrorism against the Black working class. These racists must of course
be punished.
But sacking de Klerk or the NP will not change the nature of the GNU.
The ANC gives priority to capitalism over dealing with the legacy of
apartheid. This is because it is part of the capitalist state apparatus.
It wants to “stabilize” South Africa, attract foreign investment and
restore economic growth. This will supposedly help fund the RDP and
benefit the historically oppressed.
So it has been the ANC ministers who have been the prime actors in the
crushing of working class struggles. The ANC holds the Police, Education
and Labour portfolios.
Winnie raised important issues facing the working class. But she does
not offer an alternative for her impoverished supporters. She is herself
a rich person. She is as much a beneficiary of the GNU gravy- train,
earning R360 000 a year.
When push comes to shove she will stand against socialism and defend the
capitalist wage system. We must make the revolution for ourselves!