In the Grip of Industrial Action
By Thembi Mabhula
Post-election South Africa has been engulfed in a continuous wave of protests, often accompanied by violence. Workers are calling for better salaries, while communities vigorously cry out for better service delivery. Angry crowds burn tyres, block roads, and hurl stones at passersby and police.
Violent Protests
The atmosphere is a grim reminder of the “roaring masses” during the sad days of apartheid. The very people that voted President Jacob Zuma to power have aimed their anger at his administration with a wave of service delivery protests that have turned violent. In some instances, the xenophobia that plagued South Africa just over a year ago seems to have reappeared (Legalbrief, 2009). Recent shocking images of police shooting at South Africa’s poorest citizens protesting against the lack of service delivery were beamed around the world. The damage to our country caused by these images, which resemble events in the 1980s, is enormous.
There is impatience amongst communities after many years of unfulfilled promises; particularly, their unheeded cries concerning poor service delivery. Mass protests have, however, taken on an unruly and violent nature, which should not be tolerated.
Police have had to resort to the use of gas, rubber bullets and arrests to quell the violence. In Balfour, Mpumalanga, 30 foreigners who feared for their safety during protests by strikers sought refuge at a police station. In the Siyathemba township, Johannesburg service delivery protesters threw stones at foreigners, looted shops and burnt tyres. They even tried to burn the mayor’s house down. In Durban, the striking members of an organisation representing unemployed people went on a rampage and also looted shops. About 100 people were arrested and charged with looting and theft after they stormed Shoprite Checkers and Pick ‘n Pay supermarkets. Within a period of four weeks, 20 towns have been affected by violent protests.
Promoting Democracy
The government has sent out stern warnings that the law will take its course against unruly protesters. The government view is that people should stop the violence and engage meaningfully with leaders at all levels to express their concerns. Indeed, on paper there are democratic systems for dialogue and public engagement. Democratic values underpin the principles of effective governance and form the basis of sound social communication.
Democratic Values
• Promoting and maintaining professional ethics.
• Promoting the efficient and effective utilisation of resources.
• Development-oriented public administration.
• Providing services impartially, fairly and equitably.
• Responding to people’s needs by encouraging participation in policymaking.
• Obtaining accountable public administration.
• Promoting transparency by proving the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.
The government has to act now. The most crucial needs of communities have to be prioritised. The government has to remember to listen to the people, identify the critical areas, and engage with protesting communities to find solutions.
Challenging Service Delivery
Many factors have contributed to the current service delivery challenges. These include the lack of capacity in municipalities, the lack of effective communication between municipalities and the communities they serve, and incidents of mismanagement, fraud and corruption in a number of municipalities. Words expressed by one of the protesters from Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, tell of the frustration and serious concerns felt by most communities that have for a long time been neglected.
Julia Senokoane, a resident of Orange Farm, was quoted in The Star newspaper, saying, "We have tried everything possible on this earth, including signing petitions and marching peacefully to the local council offices, but nothing has changed. All I want now is a house—one that I can sleep peacefully in with my grandchildren when it rains. For how long shall we wait to see the promise of a better life fulfilled?"
In a country where unemployment is sitting at over 25 percent, the global economic melt down has placed even greater pressure on all consumers amidst an already ongoing atmosphere of escalating inflation. In the run up to the 2009 general elections, political campaigns promised a turn around for a better life. This has resulted in more labour unrest after the elections, with workers pushed to demand better salaries.
Secretary-General of COSATU, Zwelinzima Vavi has called on the government to act now. He described the situation as a public service “ticking time bomb” and pointed out that the strikes could be as big as the 1973 Durban strikes, a wave of strikes that involved 60 000 workers.
COSATU, the umbrella labour union, is part of the Tripartite Alliance and it played a major part in influencing voters during the recent elections. The strike fever seems to be the peoples’ expression of a demand for payback from the political party in power. Some people suggest there is a third force inciting communities to sabotage the government, but such a notion seems farfetched. People’s expectations have indeed been raised as a direct result of the political campaigning prior to the recent elections.
In the Budget Speech for 2009, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel emphasised that the pride and passion of the government is the construction of a new South Africa and the overcoming of current economic challenges. He said the Budget is founded on five key principles, which are:
• Protecting the poor.
• Sustaining employment growth and expanding training opportunities.
• Building economic capacity and promoting investment.
• Addressing barriers to competitiveness that limit an equitable sharing of opportunities.
• Maintain a sustainable level of debt.
In Conclusion
To nurture our democracy and ensure that we build a better future for South Africa, the government and its citizens need to exercise extra commitment and face challenges head on. In the Budget Speech, it was highlighted that the government will not be deaf to the voice of those in pain nor blind to incompetence and greed, and that such challenges would be faced boldly. This is yet to start happening.
In the words of Ben Okri, as quoted by Mr Manuel in the Budget Speech, “The things we face are greater and more important than the things we refuse to face, and then at least we have begun the re-evaluation of our world. At least we have begun to learn to see and live again. But if we refuse to face any of our awkward and deepest truths, then sooner or later, we are going to have to become deaf and blind. And then, eventually, we are going to have to silence our dreams, and the dreams of others. In other words, we die. We die in life.”
References:
• Budget Speech 2009 by Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, 11 February 2009.
• iafrica.com/ news, 24 July 2009. Government Probes Protests.
• Legal Brief Today, 27 July 2009. Zuma,s Dilema as protests spread.
• The Free Library, 1 July 2009. Labour Unrest Ends Zuma Honeymoon.
• The Star, 20 September 2008. Protesting Is Our Last Resort.
Post-election South Africa has been engulfed in a continuous wave of protests, often accompanied by violence. Workers are calling for better salaries, while communities vigorously cry out for better service delivery. Angry crowds burn tyres, block roads, and hurl stones at passersby and police.
Violent Protests
The atmosphere is a grim reminder of the “roaring masses” during the sad days of apartheid. The very people that voted President Jacob Zuma to power have aimed their anger at his administration with a wave of service delivery protests that have turned violent. In some instances, the xenophobia that plagued South Africa just over a year ago seems to have reappeared (Legalbrief, 2009). Recent shocking images of police shooting at South Africa’s poorest citizens protesting against the lack of service delivery were beamed around the world. The damage to our country caused by these images, which resemble events in the 1980s, is enormous.
There is impatience amongst communities after many years of unfulfilled promises; particularly, their unheeded cries concerning poor service delivery. Mass protests have, however, taken on an unruly and violent nature, which should not be tolerated.
Police have had to resort to the use of gas, rubber bullets and arrests to quell the violence. In Balfour, Mpumalanga, 30 foreigners who feared for their safety during protests by strikers sought refuge at a police station. In the Siyathemba township, Johannesburg service delivery protesters threw stones at foreigners, looted shops and burnt tyres. They even tried to burn the mayor’s house down. In Durban, the striking members of an organisation representing unemployed people went on a rampage and also looted shops. About 100 people were arrested and charged with looting and theft after they stormed Shoprite Checkers and Pick ‘n Pay supermarkets. Within a period of four weeks, 20 towns have been affected by violent protests.
Promoting Democracy
The government has sent out stern warnings that the law will take its course against unruly protesters. The government view is that people should stop the violence and engage meaningfully with leaders at all levels to express their concerns. Indeed, on paper there are democratic systems for dialogue and public engagement. Democratic values underpin the principles of effective governance and form the basis of sound social communication.
Democratic Values
• Promoting and maintaining professional ethics.
• Promoting the efficient and effective utilisation of resources.
• Development-oriented public administration.
• Providing services impartially, fairly and equitably.
• Responding to people’s needs by encouraging participation in policymaking.
• Obtaining accountable public administration.
• Promoting transparency by proving the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.
The government has to act now. The most crucial needs of communities have to be prioritised. The government has to remember to listen to the people, identify the critical areas, and engage with protesting communities to find solutions.
Challenging Service Delivery
Many factors have contributed to the current service delivery challenges. These include the lack of capacity in municipalities, the lack of effective communication between municipalities and the communities they serve, and incidents of mismanagement, fraud and corruption in a number of municipalities. Words expressed by one of the protesters from Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, tell of the frustration and serious concerns felt by most communities that have for a long time been neglected.
Julia Senokoane, a resident of Orange Farm, was quoted in The Star newspaper, saying, "We have tried everything possible on this earth, including signing petitions and marching peacefully to the local council offices, but nothing has changed. All I want now is a house—one that I can sleep peacefully in with my grandchildren when it rains. For how long shall we wait to see the promise of a better life fulfilled?"
In a country where unemployment is sitting at over 25 percent, the global economic melt down has placed even greater pressure on all consumers amidst an already ongoing atmosphere of escalating inflation. In the run up to the 2009 general elections, political campaigns promised a turn around for a better life. This has resulted in more labour unrest after the elections, with workers pushed to demand better salaries.
Secretary-General of COSATU, Zwelinzima Vavi has called on the government to act now. He described the situation as a public service “ticking time bomb” and pointed out that the strikes could be as big as the 1973 Durban strikes, a wave of strikes that involved 60 000 workers.
COSATU, the umbrella labour union, is part of the Tripartite Alliance and it played a major part in influencing voters during the recent elections. The strike fever seems to be the peoples’ expression of a demand for payback from the political party in power. Some people suggest there is a third force inciting communities to sabotage the government, but such a notion seems farfetched. People’s expectations have indeed been raised as a direct result of the political campaigning prior to the recent elections.
In the Budget Speech for 2009, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel emphasised that the pride and passion of the government is the construction of a new South Africa and the overcoming of current economic challenges. He said the Budget is founded on five key principles, which are:
• Protecting the poor.
• Sustaining employment growth and expanding training opportunities.
• Building economic capacity and promoting investment.
• Addressing barriers to competitiveness that limit an equitable sharing of opportunities.
• Maintain a sustainable level of debt.
In Conclusion
To nurture our democracy and ensure that we build a better future for South Africa, the government and its citizens need to exercise extra commitment and face challenges head on. In the Budget Speech, it was highlighted that the government will not be deaf to the voice of those in pain nor blind to incompetence and greed, and that such challenges would be faced boldly. This is yet to start happening.
In the words of Ben Okri, as quoted by Mr Manuel in the Budget Speech, “The things we face are greater and more important than the things we refuse to face, and then at least we have begun the re-evaluation of our world. At least we have begun to learn to see and live again. But if we refuse to face any of our awkward and deepest truths, then sooner or later, we are going to have to become deaf and blind. And then, eventually, we are going to have to silence our dreams, and the dreams of others. In other words, we die. We die in life.”
References:
• Budget Speech 2009 by Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, 11 February 2009.
• iafrica.com/ news, 24 July 2009. Government Probes Protests.
• Legal Brief Today, 27 July 2009. Zuma,s Dilema as protests spread.
• The Free Library, 1 July 2009. Labour Unrest Ends Zuma Honeymoon.
• The Star, 20 September 2008. Protesting Is Our Last Resort.