[DEBATE] : Re: Security guard strike

Sat Jul 8 18:58:23 BST 2006

Dear Tony,

I know you are a strong supporter of the alliance, as I am, and I guess your
interest in Jacob Zuma has a lot to do with the latter's role as a uniter of
the alliance, as mine does.

I just could not let your words pass though, when you wrote that Zuma was
the "only leading ANC member to show some support" for the SATAWU security
guards. Of course I know what you mean, especially in the context of Comrade
Zeilig's odd message, but maybe not everybody does.

I wouldn't make it a condition for welcoming Comrade Zeilig that he refrains
from running down any particular comrade, not even the ANC Deputy President.
He will learn soon enough, should he enter the ranks of the movement, that
he can have his own opinions and that others will have theirs, too.

In the case of Jacob Zuma, that's many, many others.

Yours for revolution,

Dominic.

-----Original Message-----
From: debate-bounces at lists.kabissa.org
[mailto:debate-bounces at lists.kabissa.org]On Behalf Of eve and tony hall
Sent: 08 July 2006 05:58 PM
To: debate: SA discussion list
Subject: [DEBATE] : Re: Security guard strike

Dominic,

I stand corrected, of course, in the literal sense, but maybe you are
playing with words here -- you know that I am a strong supporter of the
Alliance, and therefore very much endorse the point that SACP and COSATU
members are indeed ANC members.  I'm sure you know what I mean - that he was
the only senior ANC member as such...

..in welcoming Comrade Zeilig, shouldn't you be asking him please not to run
down the ANC Vice President as an opportunist? (or are you, that anxious to
widen the fold, being a little opportunist yourself?)

T.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dominic Tweedie" <hypercube at telkomsa.net>
To: "debate: SA discussion list " <debate at lists.kabissa.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 5:34 PM
Subject: [DEBATE] : Re: Security guard strike

Tony, you are somehow forgetting that Blade Nzimande and Zwelinzima Vavi are
also leading members of the ANC, among many other leading ANC members who
publicly supported the SATAWU security guards throughout their strike.

In addition all SACP members are ANC members as a rule and the SACP solidly
supported the SATAWU security guards throughout.

COSATU solidly supported the SATAWU security guards throughout and has set
up and contributed to a fund for the restoration of SATAWU's finances.

I have asked for the bank details of this fund and will post them on this
list as soon as I get them.

Do I need to add that SATAWU is affiliated to COSATU? I suppose I do.

I would be highly surprised if SATAWU's own leadership are not in the main
also ANC members, all the way down to shop steward level, not to mention the
guards themselves.

All I would like to say to Comrade Zeilig is: Welcome aboard!

Yours in alliance,

Dominic

Web site at: http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/
Blog at: http://domza.net/
Subscribe for free e-mail updates at:
http://groups.google.com/group/Communist-University/
Library of documents at: http://cu.domza.net/

-----Original Message-----
From: debate-bounces at lists.kabissa.org
[mailto:debate-bounces at lists.kabissa.org]On Behalf Of eve and tony hall
Sent: 08 July 2006 05:11 PM
To: debate: SA discussion list
Subject: [DEBATE] : Re: Security guard strike

What DO you mean "opportunists like Zuma"! Is he supposed to boycott the
strike, and wait politely for you pure in heart people to make up your mind?
The only leading ANC member to show some support - and you attack him?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leo Zeilig" <leo.zeilig at hotmail.co.uk>
To: <debate at lists.kabissa.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 2:50 PM
Subject: [DEBATE] : Security guard strike

> Comrades,
> I wonder whether we should engage in a little critical reflection on the
> security guard strike. It was arguably the most significant strike to have
> taken place in the last ten years. Security guards were battling against
> employers who wanted to smash the union. They had the whole world against
> them: who called them by turns greedy, violent and lazy. Each day the
> strike
> radicalised and each day the left failed to relate to it, and even
> contributed to some of these attacks. There was no intervention in the
> strike, not even a rudimentary petition issued by the country's
> overabundance of left-wing intellectuals and commentators. This left the
> strikers isolated and suspicious of outsiders. The coast was open for
> opportunists like Zuma to capitalize on this isolation by claiming to be
> the
> strikers friend - on the day he was acquitted Zuma left the court and
> immediately addressed the SATAWU workers. This seems to be a pitiful state
> of affairs, and helped ensure the eventual defeat of the strike. What good
> are we as radicals and socialists unless we take the side of those
> fighting
> - sometimes desperately - for their rights and dignity?
>
> Leo Zeilig
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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