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Organising   Theory

This section contains writings by the left past and present on the theory of organising.

This section's articles

On the eve of the 2009 elections (Debate & discussion)

Tuesday 13th January 2009 by Dale
On the eve of the 2009 elections
(John Appolis - personal capacity)
With the 2009 national elections around the corner we are confronted with the task of developing a parliamentary tactic that corresponds best to the present conjuncture. The term parliamentary tactic is employed on the assumption that it is common cause amongst socialists, except for those of a particular anarchist variant, that participation in bourgeois parliaments is viewed as a tactical question and not one of (...)

THE APF & THE 2009 NATIONAL ELECTIONS: (Debate & discussion)

Tuesday 13th January 2009 by Dale
Ever since the formation of the APF in 2000, there has been a well known and ongoing debate within our movement around participation in elections as well as our strategic and tactical approach to electoral politics. This debate has again resurfaced within our ranks given the 2009 national elections scheduled to take place within the next few months. In the spirit of this ongoing debate and as a specific response to those in our ranks who are pushing for the APF to participate in the 2009 (...)

The theory of 2 stages of revolution and the NDR is a myth (Debate & discussion)

Wednesday 4th October 2006 by Trevor
The South African Communist Party has recently given birth to the Young Communist League. It is very important that these young lions do not get misled by the theoretical shibboleths, myths and confusions of the SACP. One of the greatest myths propounded by the SACP over the years of struggle against apartheid is the theory of 2 stages of revolution contained in their National Democratic Revolution perspective. History has now exposed this theory as utterly wrong and false. We must not allow the SACP to rehash this theory and continue spreading confusion among ordinary workers and youth.

STRIKES NEED THE SUPPPORT OF THE UNEMPLOYED (Debate & discussion)

Monday 18th September 2006 by Trevor
When there is a strike the bosses will get scabs. Scabs are often the unemployed members of the working class. This article provides some reasons why the unemployed must support their employed brothers and sisters on strike. Enjoy.

NGOs AND THE STRUGGLE OF THE WORKING CLASS: A SOCIALIST PERSPECTIVE

Thursday 29th June 2006 by Trevor
This short article looks at the role of NGOs in the struggle of the APF noting some strengths and weaknesses

’Old Left’ & Old Formulae (John Appolis) (Debate & discussion)

Wednesday 7th December 2005 by Dale
The “old left” and old formulae:
Dangers of calls for a mass workers party

(John Appolis )
1.Introduction:
If there is a practice that is most common amongst those on the left of the political spectrum, it is the repetition of old formulae, regardless of context, history or recent experience. One formula that the “old left repeats constantly is that a of mass workers party. Seen, as the panacea to all the problems of the workers movement, the call for a workers party (...)

Local Government Elections - A Contribution (John Appolis) (Debate & discussion)

Wednesday 7th December 2005 by Dale
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
A contribution (John Appolis, individual capacity)
The established bourgeois parties are all lining up for the coming local government elections in 4-6 months’ time. We know that without exception they will again as in 2000 parade in front of the people and make all kinds of promises of a better life. We have, over the past ten years of bourgeois democracy, seen this spectacle a number of times.
Generally speaking the coming local government elections are (...)

The Left & Attitude to Bourgeois Elections (John Appolis) (Debate & discussion)

Wednesday 7th December 2005 by Dale
The Left and its attitude to bourgeois institutions (John Appolis)
Introduction
In March this year the Rosa Luxembourg Institute arranged a discussion with the social movements on the left’s attitude to the role and participation in bourgeois institutions. Evidently this is a question that should not only be a concern to the social movements but militants in the trade union movement -especially within the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) - need to reflect on this issue. (...)

Let us unite to smash corrupt, capitalist municipalities (Debate & discussion)

Monday 9th May 2005 by Joseph Masetle
The end of the term of "democraticaly" elected councillors leaves communities with the wealth of education about ANC capitalists agents in the municipalities of our Country. During their term in office people learnt about EVICTIONS, WATER AND ELECTRICITY CUT-OFFS, PRIVATISATIONS AND JOB LOSSES, ILLITERACY AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT, POVERTY AND CORRUPTION.
The most important lesson that communities learnt is echoed by : Michael Parenti in his book DEMOCRACY FOR THE FEW "People can leave (...)

10 REASONS WHY THE LEFT MUST NOT SUPPORT THE WSF COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA IN 2007 (Debate & discussion)

Monday 7th February 2005 by Trevor
The World Social Forum is coming to Africa in 2007. Amandla! But it must not come to South Africa. This article argues this point on the grounds that international solidarity must go to where the greatest need is. It also challenges the left in South Africa to leave their comfort zones and build real links with movements in the rest of Africa. The article might seem controversial to South African patriots and those whose politics is not consistently informed by class considerations. Enjoy.

Use the WSF 2007 in Africa to build a mass struggle against capitalism (Debate & discussion)

Saturday 5th February 2005 by Trevor
When the World Social Forum comes to Africa we must be ready, comrades

The vanguard and the mass (Debate & discussion)

Saturday 5th February 2005 by Trevor
Many comrades can get confused listening to the left fight among itself about whether we need a vanguard party or a mass party. In this article this debate is clarified by explaining the relationship between vanguard politics and the mass struggle of the workers. The main argument is that one cannot move forward without the other. Food for revolutionary thought. Enjoy. (A longer version of this very short paper is available on request to [email protected] )
THE VANGUARD AND THE MASS IN (...)

POWER BELONGS TO THE WORKING CLASS NOT THE ACTIVISTS (Debate & discussion)

Thursday 20th January 2005 by Trevor
The dangers and sources of ultra-leftism and substitutionism and how to fight these diseases in our movement

Build a movement towards a Mass Workers Party in South Africa (Debate & discussion)

Thursday 13th January 2005 by Trevor
Everyone agrees that we need a mass left political alternative to the ANC government in South Africa. Everyone, that is, who genuinely and selflessly wants to stop the suffering of the people under the capitalist jackboot of the capitalist state. But some people are not clear what form such an alternative will take and how it should be built. In this article the ideas of the Socialist Group, an affiliate of the APF, on why and how to build a mass workers party are put forward for debate (...)

IDEAS FOR RUNNING CANDIDATES IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS (Debate & discussion)

Saturday 4th December 2004 by Trevor
The Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee (SECC) is an affiliate of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF). As part of its struggle for free basic services for all, the SECC is considering running condidates in the coming local government elections which are likely to take place at the end of 2005. What follows are some of the ideas which will guide the SECC in the event of its entering the sphere of electoral politics with the aim of achieving revolutionary goals. The SECC, like the APF, is (...)

THE ASSEMBLY (Debate & discussion)

Saturday 4th December 2004 by Trevor
We cannot allow the bourgeois politicians to again use the coming elections to consolidate their grip on power. This short paper suggests the building of community assemblies to provide a place where the masses can discuss how to use the local government elections to take forward their struggle for water, electricity, houses, health care and other needs which the present ANC government is failing to help provide because of its neo-liberal capitalist policies.
THE ASSEMBLY
WEAPON OF WORKERS (...)

Capitalism can strike in the day and in the night (Debate & discussion)

Tuesday 14th September 2004 by Trevor
With everyone (in South Africa) happy that South Africa won the 2010 World Cup soccer bid (you should have seen the hysteria on the day of the announcement!) perhaps its time to read this article warning against supporting your national team so much that you end up where the capitalists want you - in their pocket!
Capitalism can attack in the day and in the night
Sometimes, it is very easy to see that capitalism is like a disease that eats every part of our body. When you see starving (...)

Basic qualities of an organiser

Friday 10th September 2004 by Trevor
Comrade Siphiwe, secretary of the Johannesburg Region of the APF, states his views on the qualities of an organiser. These are general points hence the location of this article in the theory section of organising. Enjoy.
BASIC QUALITIES OF AN ORGANISER
By Comrade Siphiwe Segodi of the Thembelihle Crisis Committee
For an organization to grow it is important to have an organizer. Many activists in most organizations tend to “campaign” for “higher” positions when (...)