South Africa

We look to solidarity with the movement in Israel, not the ICJ

International pressure on Israel continues to mount, but with little visible impact on its military action. On 11-12 January South Africa brought a legal case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of perpetrating a genocide in Gaza. However it rules on the “genocide” question, the ICJ is likely to issue a ruling condemning Israel’s war and ordering it to cease. A comprehensive judgement could take years, but an interim ruling could come within weeks. A cease-and-desist order will be good, but the ICJ has no binding power. A 2022 cease-and-desist order on Russia’s war in...

Worker solidarity against apartheid

In 1984 the Irish Adminstrative and Distributive Trade Union (IDATU) passed policy for a boycott of South African goods. They instructed their members not to handle goods produced in the state, which from 1948 to 1994 mandated white-black segregation (apartheid). A young shop assistant Mary Manning, refused to serve a customer a grapefruit in Dunnes stores in Dublin. Result: an almost three-year strike, first against her suspension and then for the Irish government to boycott South African goods. Strike! , at Southwark Playhouse until 6 May tells the story of the young women and one man who...

Tenth anniversary of mass murder of mineworkers in South Africa

Miners' leader Mgcineni Noki, one of the 34 workers killed on 16 August 2012 On 16 August 2022, I went to a protest in London marking the 10th anniversary of the massacre of organised mineworkers in Marikana, South Africa - gunned down by police just for organizing strike action against oppressive work conditions. About 40 people were there, including campaigns about other countries and issues like Colombia Solidarity Campaign, and black activists from the Caribbean, and black trade unionists like Glenroy Watson from the RMT (UK transport workers’ union). Different people of different races...

The future of Covid-curbing

We know less about the future of the Omicron variant of the virus behind Covid than do the scientists who insist that it will be weeks before a clear picture. But from what the scientists are reasonably sure of, already some political conclusions follow. The months for which governments have stalled demands to requisition Big Pharma assets — at least the patents and the technical know-how which would allow ultra-fast worldwide expansion of vaccine production and distribution — will now take a toll in Africa. The world jab rate has been more or less static, around 0.4 doses per 100 people per...

To curb Omicron, requisition Big Pharma

On 23 November South African medical authorities identified the Omicron variant of the virus behind Covid. It had probably been circulating for a while before that, and has already spread to many countries. This sharpens the urgency of requisitioning the patents and other assets of Big Pharma. It focuses three facts: 1. Covid can’t be abolished by a lockdown or even a vaccination drive. Governments which say they will “send coronavirus packing” are blustering. 2. Curbs like mask mandates, work-from-home rules, vax-or-test rules for entering higher-risk spaces, and even full lockdowns, only...

Metal workers win 5-6% in South Africa

The last two issues of Solidarity reported on a major strike by metal and engineering workers in South Africa, members of the left-wing NUMSA union. The strike is now over. It looks like the union has given more ground than the bosses. NUMSA’s demand was an 8% increase for all workers in the first year of a deal, then inflation plus 2% in the following two years. The employers offered 4.4%, then inflation plus 0.5% and inflation plus 1%. The settlement is 6% each year for the lowest paid, and 5-5.5% for better paid workers. Inflation is currently running at about 5%. If it falls, the deal...

South African metal strike grows

Many tens of thousands of metal and engineering workers in South Africa, members of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA), have been on indefinite strike over pay and conditions since 5 October. NUMSA is calling for an 8% wage rise for everyone in the first year of a deal, and inflation plus 2% in the following two years. Employers offered 4.4%, then inflation plus 0.5% and inflation plus 1%. Under pressure they have now added an offer of 6% for the lowest paid. Last year NUMSA agreed to no wage increase due to the impact of the pandemic on the industry. That helps...

All-out metals strike in South Africa

Metal and engineering workers in South Africa, members of the left-wing National Union of Metal Workers (NUMSA), have been on indefinite strike over pay and conditions since 5 October. NUMSA is calling for an 8% wage rise for everyone in the first year of a deal, and inflation plus 2% in the following two years. Employers have offered 4.4%, then inflation plus 0.5% and inflation plus 1%. NUMSA is South Africa's biggest union, with over 300,000 members. The strike has already faced violence, including rubber bullets from the police and a striker killed by a car ploughing into a group of workers...

Robert Fine and the critique of antisemitism

Robert Fine, who died on 9 June 2018, was a socialist writer unafraid to stand up to much of the left’s received wisdom on the questions of Israel, Palestine, and antisemitism. He opposed the “absolute anti-Zionist” standpoint that one should unreservedly object to (a) Israel’s very existence, rather than the oppressive practices of the Israeli state, and (b) any feelings of Jewish communal or national identification with Israel, even when such feelings are accompanied with harsh condemnation of the Israeli government or genuine horror at the Palestinians’ suffering. Fine opposed the blanket...

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