Amandla ! : COP 29 failed humanity

In the feature of this issue, we focus on climate change and the just transition. We :

– Get a view of the failure of the COP process and a glimpse of an alternative ;
– Read about the crisis of the private pathway to electricity reform ;
– Hear from the NUM on how they see the just transition ;
– Learn the lessons from the failure of the Komati power station conversion ;
– Get an analysis of green colonialism and See how Africa can use the Global North’s breaches of global trade regulations to our advantage.

The editorial in this issue focuses on how the elite tells us stories to hide the truth. The story that the zama zamas are a problem of foreigners. The same story about the poisoned children and the spaza shops. We expose the lie. And also the lie when the President addresses us with false promises. Telling us that failing municipalities, with budgets cut by his government, will fix the problem of spaza shops. We end with five real solutions to replace his fantasy ones.

In the feature, Trusha Reddy describes the consistent failure of the COPs. This time, they failed to address the crucial issue of climate finance. All they offered was more debt. The light on the horizon comes from ‘Counter COPs’ being built by the Africa Climate Justice Collective and the Women’s Climate Assembly.

Katrina Lehmann-Grube and Brian Kamanzi explain why the private pathway to a ‘just transition’ is, and must be, a failure. We hear from Tebogo Lesabe of the NUM about the union’s position and challenges when it comes to the just transition.

Andile Zulu explains what went wrong with what was supposed to be a model project – the conversion of the Komati power station from coal to renewable energy. Hamza Hamouchene challenges us to take back the narrative of the just transition from the capitalist class, which has repurposed it for its own profit-driven ends.

And Rob Davies, one-time Minister of Trade and Industry, explains how the Global North is increasingly breaking global trade regulations and how we may be able to use that to our advantage.

In our local coverage :

– Mazibuko Jara looks at the problems of the wrongly named Government of National Unity and the resulting challenges for the working class and poor.
– Bevil Lucas explains the occupation of the former Woodstock Hospital over the last seven years and their challenges now that the City wants to evict them and develop the site.
– Thandolwethu Nkopane holds out some hope for the revived Land Court but worries about its future with the ministries of agriculture and land affairs split and under such politically opposed leadership.
J-eff Rudin explains why the politics of food are actually the politics of poverty.
– Siyanda Baduza takes us through the basis for the current court case around the Social Relief of Distress grant. He shows how they are saving money at the expense of the poor.
– Chloé van Biljon and Jaco Oelofsen tell us the story of how Samancor siphons billions out of South Africa, thereby avoiding both taxes and wage increases.
– We talk to Petros Elia, General Secretary of one of the ‘new unions’ in the UK – the United Voices of the World. We hear of their experiences of organising casual and immigrant workers.

In our international coverage, we hear from Janet Cherry and Mulat Assefa of the devastation they witnessed in Tigray, Ethiopia, on a recent visit.
Boaventura Monjane describes the growing youth protest movement in Mozambique after the recent election, and the possibilities and perils it faces.
Roshan Dadoo challenges the South African government to back up its words on Palestine at the International Court of Justice with actions to stop the export of coal that is fuelling the genocide.
Gilbert Achcar explains the implications of the Trump ‘America First’ policy globally and raises the grim prospect of a joint US-Israel war with Iran.
And Andrew Ahern, a US youth activist, explains how it was possible for Trump to win and the implications for US politics.

And then, of course, the Reluctant President. In this issue he despairs at all his challenges – spaza shops, zama zamas and now Phala Phala again.

by Roger Etkind