Amandla ! : Unemployment is killing SA

In the feature of this issue, we focus on unemployment. We :

– Hear from an unemployed young woman about her experience of unemployment ;
Present analyses of unemployment and how it is created by government policy ;

– Look at alternative policies to address unemployment and

– Examine the role of technology in creating unemployment

The editorial in this issue focuses on the threat posed by the rise of populist politics in South Africa and the urgency this gives to the project of building a movement for socialism. The GNU cannot solve the fundamental problems of unemployment and the social crisis that accompanies it. In that context, the threat of an increased populist vote in 2029 hangs over our heads.

In the feature, Siziphiwe Dunjana describes, in an interview, her life as an unemployed young woman in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Brian Ashley analyses the causes of unemployment in the first of a two-part article, which will go on to address alternatives. Khokhoma Motsi tells us about the experience of the Botshabelo Unemployed Movement, organising the unemployed over the last 25 years. Dominic Brown situates unemployment in the context of neoliberal economic policies, and Dick Forslund looks at some of the crucial steps necessary to tackle it decisively. Sharon Ekambaram tackles the false narrative of migrant responsibility for unemployment. Fazila Farouk examines in detail the role that technology plays in constructing unemployment and the role of a Universal Basic Income Grant in dealing with the consequences.

In our local coverage, Aliya Chikte and Jaco Oelofsen chart a path through the thorny issue of responsibility for the cuts in the provision of basic education. They explain that the overall responsibility lies with the National Treasury, but provincial governments make specific choices within that context. Nonhle Mbuthuma and Cromwell Sonjica tell the story of the struggle of the Amadiba people of the Eastern Cape and their fight to reroute the proposed N2 toll road so that it doesn’t destroy the way of life of the villages of the area. Tony Martel shows us that load reduction is the new load shedding – only this time, it is directed at the poor. Eric Blanc describes a new form of worker-led unionisation in the US, which may have lessons for South Africa, especially for new start-up unions.

In our international coverage, we hear from Ruth Mudingayi about the tragedy of greed and violence in the mineral exploitation of the DRC. An interview with Emiliano Terán Mantovani presents another perspective on Venezuela after the recent elections to add to the two articles we recently posted on the website. He explains why the Left should not support the Maduro regime. Sushovan Dhar’s article is an update on Bangladesh, after his article on our website early in the protests. He is not positive about prospects under the new government of Muhammad Yunus, given his commitment to neoliberalism, and looks at the tasks for the Left, weak as it currently is. Pierre Rousset updates us on political developments since the rise of the Left popular front in the recent elections. And Baba Aye describes and analyses the latest protests in Nigeria, inspired by the recent demonstrations in Kenya.

And then, of course, the Reluctant President. In this issue, he muses approvingly about how Operation Vulindlela is ‘opening the way’ for privatisation.

by Roger Etkind