Since the last edition of Numsa News, many developments have occupied the public space. Unroadworthy Putco buses in Gauteng have caused the loss of many lives.
The defence given by Putco management about the condition of the buses, which also transport our children to schools, has not helped either. The initiative by Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy to subject all buses transporting children thorough testing before schools open is commendable.
The most important event in June was the fourth policy conference of the ANC in Gauteng. There was much focus on the “Strategy and Tactics” document and its title “second transition”, which in our view is a misnomer, considering the contents of the document.
The title tried to suggest a theory based on stages, within the same mode of transition as the National Democratic Revolution and using the same capitalist template.
Before 1994 some comrades on the left conceived of the NDR as involving a first phase of bourgeois transition and a second transition to socialism. Leading theorists such as Joe Slovo showed that it was unscientific and mechanical to conceive of a Chinese wall between the two phases.
So the amended version, “second phase of transition” makes a better political sense. The call to focus on economic transition and ownership represents a shift of paradigm within the same NDR mode.
There is no clash between the paradigm pursued since 1994 and the one called by “Strategy and Tactics”, except a shift in emphasis using the same template.
Overall, good policies did emerge from the policy conference, however. Although nationalisation was not accepted, it was given recognition through the acceptance that the state must play a greater role, for example by imposing a new tax on profits and a state mining company.
A disappointing issue has been the crisis in Limpopo education. It is unforgiveable that for seven months children have not had textbooks and absurd that some were found dumped, while others were burnt or thrown away.
The department of education in the province, especially the education MEC Dickson Masemola and his head of department, must resign or be dismissed, together with the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshega and her director-general. The neglect shown by their officials must be seen as their failure.
This ugly state of affairs shows up the ANC as being unable to provide basic delivery of services. Section 27, an NGO, took the department to court, while the DA is having a field day slamming the ANC government.
This cannot be allowed when we are just one year from elections.
The ANC must be decisive in order to send out a strong message that it will not protect individuals because they happen to be in leadership positions. The movement is bigger than individual leaders.
The education of black children cannot be a peripheral issue; it is about the future of South Africa and our economy.
Happy reading!
Source
Numsa News