South africa : public sector strikers

On news here: http://libcom.org/news/south-africa-massive-strike-spreads-13th-day-13062007

Forward with the struggle!

The W.S.A. continues to stand in solidarity with the working people of South Africa.

We have stood by you during the fight against aparthied. We have stood with you in your struggle for independent class based unions. We have stood by you during the fight against retrenchments and restructuring. And we will continue to stand by you today in this fight for a living wage and pension.

Workers Solidarity Alliance
National Office
wsany@hotmail.com
http://www.workersolidarity.org

two public sector unions have broken ranks - sold out, then - the teachers and the healthcare workers. I'd just be guessing here - does anyone know what type of workers are in hospersa? nurses? ancillaries? clerical and managerial?

Workers and masses demonstrating against electricity and water disconnections are shot at and clubbed by the ANC goon squads. Things are no better than under apartheid and worse if you take the illusions in democracy and trade unions into account.

On the other hand, the crumb of comfort must be that the mask has slipped a bit?

Obviously, I'm not saying 'hurrah, some workers have had their heads bashed in, that'll expand their consciousness', but at least it should be clearer that national capitalism and the state act the same no matter who is in control?

There is the danger of leftism, which says 'the workers must do x in order for xx to be exposed', ie, they must bang their heads against a wall in order to realise that it hurts. But I think you're right Sloth about the workers in S. Africa and this is true, more or less, for workers everywhere. The state, and especially the "workers' friends", in power, must increasingly reveal themselves for what they are.
Last week, there were mass protests and demonstrations against the lack of housing, water, sanitation, and electricity in Soweto and Alexandria. Police fired rubber bullets and arrested many. Tear gas was used in the wave of strikes in June involving at one stage up to a million workers. In May, there were demonstrations and protests in towns and cities across South Africa. COSATU, the South African Communist Party and the ANC are all hand in glove against the workers. Like their class brothers in the west, the unions ploy was to call their "solidarity" strikes on the basis of division and at different times, thus weakening the workers' actions.
Overall, for most of the population, conditions have been declining during and since the replacement of the apartheid regime.
The greatest danger for the working class in South Africa now, is the continuing, though declining illusions it has in the ANC, the SCAP and the union wing of the state. These must all be recognised as the enemy of the working class in South Africa.