Did+fallen+heroes+fight+and+die+for+this+circus,+Sphiwe+Mkhize

Comrades:
=Did we, our fallen heroes, and living liberals, fight and die for this circus?=


 * by Sphiwe Xolani Thulani Mkhize ka Mphungwa**

Comrade President Thabo Mbeki has portrayed an enormous prosperous figure; in leading us out of the handsome fester in South African economy achieved by apartheid course. This earned our honorable "component" respect and confidence in him. He deserves this in addition to what he acquired in his remarkable contribution in the laborious liberation struggle. All his efforts as our leader have created a unique milieu in this country and have acquired an upsurge in the economy; collectively with most of his personnel.

But his devout character portrayed by his arduous leadership style has exposed us to an inopportune state of affairs. This portrays off-beam reflection on our liberation movement. His willingness to even amend the constitution so that he remains president portrays him as a power devotee. I personally believe comrade Thabo has a huge role to play in international community given his well-equipped international relations figure especially in Africa.

I do not understand why he is so obsessed with his current post whereas he has exhausted his task. That is to sustain the economy and democracy; similarly the empowerment of women. We witness him axing anyone who dares to challenge his leadership ways or threatens his chances of executing a third term in office; choosing what or who to believe when examining and dealing with allegations at hand. To refresh your memory I am referring to the likes of J Z and the latest Madlala-Routledge convicted by the media and was axed without tangible grounds; while Selebi and Tshabalala-Msimang retain their positions even after them similarly convicted by the media as well.

We see comrade Thabo availing himself for a third term beyond the peoples’ voice. Comrade Harry Gwala once said "izwi labantu linguJehova" meaning once the people have spoken let it be. Members of the ANC have correctly raised their preferred leader; which is comrade JZ the one who is accessible to the people. The fact that people, or members of the ANC rather, [preferred JZ] does not necessarily mean we do not acknowledge and appreciate what comrade Thabo has did for this country.

But we simply want a leader who is conscious of the working class that contribute massively to the success of the economy. The leader who will hopefully ensure fair distribution of resources and wealth; from those who go kilometres deep underground to dig commodities that have acquired SA a reputation internationally, right to those who wake up early hours to bake bread for our children. Let alone the teachers who taught the basic education that enables them to write those fat cheques. The working class should get a fair share just like it is stated in the freedom charter instead of the selected few getting richer everyday. Mind you there is nothing wrong about getting rich but through the exploitation of the people is immoral. That is one of the reasons I support Zuma not because Mbeki is whatsoever he is said to be.

I always see Zuma coming to the people at grass root level to address issues and stressors of the masses, and I always see Mbeki addressing the few stakeholders and BEE beneficial are always around him. Workers are sidelined. I do not see how can a BEE beneficiary influenced by capitalism can advise the president positively with regards to the best interest of the workers; but possibly self interest will be encouraged in these events of so called business trips and state visits. I would like to see working class representatives, as well, being accommodated on such trips so that they can learn how workers in other countries address their issues that will enable us to be equipped with various ways of addressing issues.

I suggest this because in SA the only way the working class could be heard is through strikes which affect tax payer's money. Regrettably we see this emerging from the grass root level through up to those on top of the 'food chain'. Leaders use the same tactics to retain their positions. Comrades we deploy to the SRC consume so much from their phone bills you could swear they have a call center. Consumption of petrol is as if they run a racing track; without us seeing any development and transformation to our people or any programs executed for that matter.

Unfortunately it seems we have the same case in UKZNP, out gone comrade president of UKZNP then now Secretary General of the central SRC of UKZN axing and suspending people by virtue of his capacity as the political head. What surprises me is that how can a leader of such structure lead cliques and discrepancies within the same structure his leading; instead of bringing about unity. He did this by leading the masses astray with his illogical information; eloquent that most of the members are not aware of the proceedings and facts of our movement. By virtue of his dual membership in PYA he manoeuvres the situation and pursues his interest in all potential platforms possible so that the outcome favours him to remain in power. I also see the centralization of resources as one of his tactics to ensure infinite support from those privileged by benefiting from them. This devour personality is problematic as it leads to arduous outcome; as we have seen the divisions among members he claims to lead.

We speak of capacity building to our comrades but what we see here is capacity destruction. We see cadres being chopped and reshuffled in the process capacity evaluation based on who they support or listen to. Why should we be limited to voting objects rather than subjects?

Comrades we deploy to the SRC are always on meetings discussing issues. But we see little change in terms of transformation. In most cases when they have to come and account to us who gave them a mandate; our meetings discusses names and who should be dealt with. We spend too much time discussing names of people rather than stressors faced by our people the students. Majority of the students come from the working class communities, they face limitations given the sort of education they received through primary to high school.

Most students from the remote areas do not have access to resources which are of necessity at university. Things like computers, the library, data storage devices and so forth. This now creates classes amongst us students in some way. We start to discriminate each other and call one by names. We still face the stigma of racism, tribalism and the after effects of apartheid. How this is all related to the selection of a new leader of the ruling party; is that we look up to our leader and tend to adopt ones style of leadership. So bringing about new character in this regard especially a unifying one like Msholozi will come in handy. We have seen him resolve issues at home and in Africa. Within the ANC there are many leaders ideologically capacitated with qualities and the ability for the post of the president but Zuma has been practically a president of the people.


 * Sphiwe Xolani Thulani Mkhize ka Mphungwa,**


 * E-mail 206507028@ukzn.ac.za**

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