Mass Solidarity Movement
by a.k.a Mzamani, Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Those in positions of authority are typically blameless, and those who make a mistake due to poverty are unconditionally and readily disciplined and, in most cases, are used as scapegoats for the true perpetrators. The use of capital and corporal punishment was largely administered only to serfs, slaves, and blacks, and it was celebrated during apartheid. In our country, the revoking of apartheid laws is currently blamed for the widespread social upheavals instead of the widening inequalities and socioeconomic crisis. It is also common to hear some sectors of society reminiscing about the former white minority government.
The late Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, is among those who wanted the Corporal Punishment Act reinstated. Also, he was a fierce defender of racially inscribed boundaries, which treated black people like tribal subjects rather than equal citizens. The Black Administration Laws benefited tribal officials and administrators. During imperialism, colonialism, and apartheid, they wanted administrators on the ground for cheap labor force supply, to impose tax collection, facilitation of land dispossessions, and so on.
The signing of the Traditional Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) in 2018, which, according to its critics, is bringing back "apartheid Bantustan", justifies actions the traditional authorities take. In Limpopo, a traditional leader (formerly Bantustan Chief) blocked water pipes passing through their areas of jurisdiction, resulting in over 50 villages without access to water. The fact that water is a fundamental human right does not apply. This is in discrepancy with the constitution, which the president claims this act is in line with.
I'm thinking about the sweeping clampdown on township taxis in Cape Town. The City of Cape Town (CCT) government claims to be protecting innocent residents against criminals. In fact, what the CCT government is doing is the opposite. People whose lives it claims to protect suffer. These taxis are the source of transport for the poorest of the poor, and they put food on the table.
The same government managers are protecting and prioritizing the interests of a few greedy rich people at the expense of the poor and majority. This is done by excluding poor people from land near cities, workplaces or job opportunities. The city of Cape Town is swamped with empty and abandoned buildings. And yet many are homeless, living in informal settlements or overcrowded squalor without basic human dignity.
Again, the fact is that many, many, many more people are without work, land, and water. The same government uses law enforcement to target poor people who are just trying to make ends meet. An unemployed group of women from Kensington's Gate 7 informal settlement started a vegetable garden on a patch of land near their neighborhood. The law enforcement arrived and ordered them to cease what they were doing, calling what they were doing an act of ‘land invasion’.
Amidst the uncontrollable socioeconomic crisis, the government still chose to let impoverished people die of starvation.
A group of women from Gate 7 informal settlement started a vegetable garden. Near their informal settlement in Gate 7, Kensington. But law enforcement commanded the women to cease what they were doing. The law enforcers explained that what the women were doing was land invasion. That the land belongs to the City of Cape Town. Thursday, July 21, 2022.
Despite the fact that vegetables are seasonal, have the potential to save many lives and the land is available and is not being utilized. This is evident that while the Black Administration Act of 1927 has been formally revoked, its practices and results continue to be felt. The same tactics used during colonialism and apartheid to force people into Bantustans still apply.
These actions are further reinforcing the tribalism imposed during colonial and apartheid rule through racial labor systems and spatial planning. These effects are embedded in our societal mental algorithm and fabric. Manifesting in social upheavals and where, instead of turning to the ruling elite for answers, we are increasingly becoming a dog eat dog society. The ongoing mayhem of violent crimes, domestic violence, xenophobia, and gangsters is the manifest of colonial, apartheid, and ongoing imperialism.
The burning of three young Zimbabweans in Vembe district, Limpopo, which was followed by a chasing spree of Zimbabwean nationals. In the same vein, a huge protest took place at Elim Mall, which is under the jurisdiction of Chief Njhakanjhaka and Dhavani. Its residents demanded that jobs be assigned to them instead of people from other areas. This time, the blame was placed on their fellow poor South African workers and again the ruling elite directly responsible for these miseries – are off the hook!
The residents of these villages and rural townships were angry for a long time. They’ve been living with water outages for decades and they still are. For those in the township, sewage pipes, roads and electricity power lines are never repaired.
One day, the people from the same areas had a big march to the mayor at the municipal offices in Makhando (formerly Louis Trichardt). There were some individuals from the tripartite alliance (wearing ANC, SACP, and COSATU regalia) who strategically positioned themselves as leaders of the march. In the following moments, they were embraced on the porch area of the municipal building by the mayor, other politicians, and comradely welcomed.
The mayor (in brown suit) standing on the porch of the municipal building in Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt), Limpopo. Standing before him are the protesters who marched long distances to demand reliable electricity, clean water, and maintenance of sewage pipes. Monday, November 27, 2017.
The march was over and that was that! Politicians, like traditional authorities, are gatekeepers of mass action directed directly at the ruling elites, resulting in unbearable frustrations manifesting themselves into self-destruction. As long as there’s oppression anywhere in the world, the masses will rise up, and they are awakening.
That’s why the ruling elite want to keep on making decisions for us to keep us divided. Because they are scared that when our diverse cultures come together, they will ultimately form robust, resilient, and resistant cultures. Like our revolutionary ancestors did in the past. We need to unite with our fellow workers in China, Africa, Europe, America, and South America and, likewise, poor and working-class communities—united we stand, divided we fall!
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