Swaziland National Union of Students condemns xenophobic attacks

STATEMENT

24 April 2015

The Swaziland National Union of Students condemns the on-going xenophobic attacks on foreign African nationals in our neighbouring Republic of South Africa. We are an organization that believes in non-violence and we have continuously re-affirmed our stand on robustly engaging issues through debates and dialogue, most of all we always emphasize on constantly displaying the spirit of Ubuntu.

We will always rebuke inflicting pain and worst of all initiating death to a fellow human because of his or her age, nationality, political affiliation, creed, and so on. We view xenophobia to be extreme vindication a fellow African expects from another. In fact we perceive xenophobia barbarism at its worst, it is for that reason we believe that the on-going attacks on foreign nationals in South African soil shall cease.

However we are not saying just because we are human beings and most of all Africans, the Republic of South Africa shall carry the burden of African government’s failure to stabilize their socio-economic environments. The Republic of South Africa should not be a cache of other government’s failure; however as a well-established and a better developed country in the African continent in terms of socio-economic development it should complement other government’s efforts.

Large quantities of our parents working in South African mines would not be predisposed to xenophobic attacks if the Swazi Government has made the conditions reasonable for investors or itself to mine in Dvokolwako Diamond and Bulembu Mines. Large quantities of our brothers and sisters would not be doing matriculation or would have not enrolled in South African universities if our education in the country was relevant to the demands of the ever developing world; that is shaping our education system not to be bias to the ruling elite but aims at transforming not only the country’s economic development but also the manner in which a Swazi child conceptualize ideas. Our fellow Swazis would not be in suspense of what is going to happen to a family member due for an appointment with an oncologist in a South African Hospital if we had quality health team members and an effective health system. Highly qualified Swazis would not be in danger of xenophobia if our Government had a respect for workers, if workers’ rights were not violated in Swaziland, if our parents were not underpaid.

We would not have to worry about the safety of our exiled former student leaders if our government had respected our freedom of expression, freedom of speech, right to education and if our Government believes in constructive criticism; tolerate dissenting views. Our student leader, former UNISWA president Pius Vilakati would be still in the borders with his life uncompromised, if our government had provided quality and free education for all.

SNUS condemns xenophobia in every way possible, it also calls for the Swazi Government, other African countries and the rest of the world to take a look at the bigger picture of what perpetuates xenophobia.

Viva to the spirit of Ubuntu Viva!!!

Issued by: Swaziland National Union of Students

Dlamini Thembelihle - SNUS Secretary General

Email: swazisnus@gmail.com

 Mobile: +26876378709

EINSTEIN: THE NEGRO QUESTION - A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF USA (1946)*

by Albert Einstein

I am writing as one who has lived among you in America only a little more than ten years. And I am writing seriously and warningly. Many readers may ask:

"What right has he to speak about things which concern us alone, and which no newcomer should touch?"

I do not think such a standpoint is justified. One who has grown up in an environment takes much for granted. On the other hand, one who has come to this country as a mature person may have a keen eye for everything peculiar and characteristic. I believe he should speak out freely on what he sees and feels, for by so doing he may perhaps prove himself useful.

What soon makes the new arrival devoted to this country is the democratic trait among the people. I am not thinking here so much of the democratic political constitution of this country, however highly it must be praised. I am thinking of the relationship between individual people and of the attitude they maintain toward one another.

In the United States everyone feels assured of his worth as an individual. No one humbles himself before another person or class. Even the great difference in wealth, the superior power of a few, cannot undermine this healthy self-confidence and natural respect for the dignity of one's fellow-man.

There is, however, a somber point in the social outlook of Americans. Their sense of equality and human dignity is mainly limited to men of white skins. Even among these there are prejudices of which I as a Jew am clearly conscious; but they are unimportant in comparison with the attitude of the "Whites" toward their fellow-citizens of darker complexion, particularly toward Negroes. The more I feel an American, the more this situation pains me. I can escape the feeling of complicity in it only by speaking out.

Many a sincere person will answer: "Our attitude towards Negroes is the result of unfavorable experiences which we have had by living side by side with Negroes in this country. They are not our equals in intelligence, sense of responsibility, reliability."

I am firmly convinced that whoever believes this suffers from a fatal misconception. Your ancestors dragged these black people from their homes by force; and in the white man's quest for wealth and an easy life they have been ruthlessly suppressed and exploited, degraded into slavery. The modern prejudice against Negroes is the result of the desire to maintain this unworthy condition.

The ancient Greeks also had slaves. They were not Negroes but white men who had been taken captive in war. There could be no talk of racial differences. And yet Aristotle, one of the great Greek philosophers, declared slaves inferior beings who were justly subdued and deprived of their liberty. It is clear that he was enmeshed in a traditional prejudice from which, despite his extraordinary intellect, he could not free himself.

A large part of our attitude toward things is conditioned by opinions and emotions which we unconsciously absorb as children from our environment. In other words, it is tradition—besides inherited aptitudes and qualities—which makes us what we are. We but rarely reflect how relatively small as compared with the powerful influence of tradition is the influence of our conscious thought upon our conduct and convictions.

It would be foolish to despise tradition. But with our growing self-consciousness and increasing intelligence we must begin to control tradition and assume a critical attitude toward it, if human relations are ever to change for the better. We must try to recognize what in our accepted tradition is damaging to our fate and dignity—and shape our lives accordingly.

I believe that whoever tries to think things through honestly will soon recognize how unworthy and even fatal is the traditional bias against Negroes.

What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted prejudice? He must have the courage to set an example by word and deed, and must watch lest his children become influenced by this racial bias.

I do not believe there is a way in which this deeply entrenched evil can be quickly healed. But until this goal is reached there is no greater satisfaction for a just and well-meaning person than the knowledge that he has devoted his best energies to the service of the good cause.

*Article taken from “On Being” blog

COSATU and SACP condemn Xenophobic Attacks: Joint Statement

1.    Killing of SATAWU Gauteng Provincial Secretary

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) condemn in strongest terms possible the killing of South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) Gauteng Provincial Secretary, Comrade Chris Nkosi on Monday evening, and the bombing of the house of the Union’s President, Comrade June Dube hours later on Tuesday morning.

A joint delegation of the leadership of the Cosatu and the SACP have earlier today visited the families to give our moral support. 

READ: On King Zwelithini's “foreigners must go back home” statement: A draft criticism

We once more send our message of heartfelt condolences to the family of Comrade Nkosi for the loss suffered. We also acknowledge messages of support from all Cosatu affiliates, Alliance partners and fellow South Africans. In Comrade Chris Nkosi, we have lost a dedicated and astute negotiator for the workers. 

We are calling on all relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned, hunt down the perpetrators of these barbaric acts and bring them to justice, with maximum sentences imposed. What has happened can only be the work of criminals and/or their fellow collaborators and vigilante groupings in those elements who have been gambling with the unity of the workers. Cosatu and the SACP say to Satawu leaders and members in particular, and to the working class of our country in general, that:

“This is not the time to be divided – the time which should never come because disunity can only benefit the bosses and those who, wittingly or unwittingly, serve their interests or play in their hands. This is precisely the time to close ranks – that is to unite! This is the time to give no quarter to the exploiters of any sort or to the external manipulators, including those who can only pledge false ‘solidarity’ while in their real life activity they are engaged in destroying Satawu and the overall unity of the working class movement”.

2.    May Day

In memory of Comrades Violet Seboni, Solomon “Kalushi” Mahlangu, Chris Hani and countless other revolutionaries who died this month of April in our struggle for complete liberation and social emancipation, let us defend working class unity!

In our joint bilateral programme this is the message we will be driving in all sectors of our economy as we build strong and militant affiliates of Cosatu as an independent force of the workers in our liberation Alliance and society in general.

Cosatu has taken the right step in assisting its affiliates, including Satawu, to build unity and cohesion. The SACP fully supports this programme. This is an important contribution in building a united Cosatu. 

Over the next period the SACP and Cosatu will intensify ground work to ensure the success of this programme. On 1 May 2015 we will share joint platforms, together with our ally the African National Congress (ANC) across the country as part and parcel of our programme to take working class demands forward. 

This year’s May Day theme is: ‘Celebrating 30th Anniversary and Re-Positioning’.

We are calling on workers and their families to join the planned May Day activities under leadership of Cosatu. 

The month of May is Africa Month. We will dedicate the May Day platforms to urge all South Africans to embrace the Africa Month celebrations and build continental unity.
Attacks on foreign nationals

3.    Xenophobic Attacks

We condemn in strongest terms possible the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops. There can be no justification whatsoever for these criminal and backward acts, including xenophobia. These acts of barbarism must just stop right now! The law enforcement agencies must stand up from their barracks to the task, and must be more proactive than mainly reactive. Similarly, we call on all our structures across the country to come out in defence of peace, and in pursuit of peace in communities. We will strengthen our efforts in this regard on the ground and work together with all progressive community-based organisations who share our belief that Africa belongs to all who live in it. The bosses who super-exploit foreign nationals and thus force all workers in the race to the bottom must take responsibility for the problems caused by their actions, including the so-called xenophobia. They must be held accountable! 

We call on the government to act decisively against the sectors of the economy which super-exploit foreign nationals as both a replacement of South African workers and evasion of compliance with hard-won labour rights. All workers must be respected with equal rights independently of any nationality! We reaffirm the right of the African people and other foreign nationals to be in South Africa in terms of applicable international and national laws which must be respected by all of us together. We reiterate our principled stance of the rule of democratic law in our country. In particular, we pledge our international solidarity with all our African brothers and sisters who have been forced out of their respective countries by various forces of circumstances, all of which were socially engineered.

We say: “We are one people”!

READ: International Criminal Court and al-Bashir: Imagine King Mswati were charged by ICC

Together we have suffered from the historical injustices of displacement, colonial oppression and imperialist exploitation driven in the main by European colonisers and the imperialist powers of the North.

The legacy of under-development and wretchedness left by colonial oppression and imperialist exploitation is the primary cause of the economic and political problems our continent is facing to this day. The perpetuation of imperialist exploitation involving new methods is reproducing and worsening those problems. Yet those who are primarily responsible for these problems are basking in the luxury of accumulated surplus wealth mainly expatriated to Europe and North America.

In the face of all of these, we must not be divided by any forms of false consciousness. We must instead unite as Africans and unite with our counterparts from other continents in pursuit of international solidarity, world peace and social justice.

4.    The abuse of learners in community protests

Cosatu and the SACP condemn the violation of learners’ rights in violent protests taking place in communities in which schools are closed and torched and other public infrastructure maliciously damaged in the name of “service delivery”. 

This new tendency of sacrificing the future of our children by abusing and denying them their right to learn is completely unacceptable, and has no place in a democratic society. We acknowledge the forthcoming principals’ seminar organised by the South African Democratic Teachers Unions (SADTU) and related education bodies to deal with this and other challenges facing our education system. This programme, which we are in full support of, will be cascaded to provinces and districts across the country.

Issued jointly COSATU and the SACP

Contact:

Acting COSATU National Spokesperson

Ntai Norman Mampane

Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or Direct: +27 10 219-1348

Mobile: +27 72 416 3790

Twitter: @_cosatu / @COSATU2015_

SACP National Spokesperson

Alex Mashilo

Mobile: 082 9200 308

Office: 011 339 3621/2

Twitter: SACP1921

Facebook Page: South African Communist Party – SACP

On King Zwelithini's “foreigners must go back home” statement: A draft criticism

(By Pius Vilakati, writing as Mr Pius Rinto)

One of King Zwelithini’s sons, Prince Mandlesizwe, was trained in Swaziland by its army and graduated there on 21 March 2014. King Zwelithini is also married to two women from Swaziland. Meanwhile, he makes a xenophobic call that all foreigners must go back to their countries instead of competing with South Africans on the few economic opportunities available. He wants all foreigners kicked out whilst he alone marries foreigners and sends his children to train in other foreign countries whose people he despises.

King Zwelithini will be well aware that Swaziland has fewer economic opportunities compared to South Africa. Surely, this should not be used as a basis for his son’s deportation so that one poor Swazi citizen could be trained instead? If we had to strictly rely on his anti-immigrants theory surely his two wives would have to be deported. Not so? Perhaps his own life should on its own be a lesson that he should not be uttering such irresponsible statements!

The backward king goes on to fabricate history when he makes a wild guess that South African exiles did not set up businesses in the countries in which they settled. If the king had dared to lift a single finger and fight against the apartheid regime, his royal mind would been opened to the fact that surviving in exile would have been well-nigh impossible if the exiled comrades had not set up some small businesses or scouted for jobs in the countries of exile. How else does he think they made money, acquired clothing, and funded their education? It was through tactically setting up businesses, getting jobs, and the donations received from progressive governments such as the Soviet Union, that they were able to survive and fight the apartheid regime! Well, His Majesty was not fighting against the apartheid regime, hence he knows nothing of such survival tactics!

Evident in his shallow analysis of the “problem” of foreigners, the king makes the catastrophic failure to make a simple analysis of world history, particularly of Southern Africa. South Africa’s economy cannot be analysed, and thereby resolved, without making a thorough analysis of the Southern African region’s political economy and the trends thereto. If the king had bothered to remove the royal fog in his eyes, he would have been conscientised of the stark spatial inequalities between South Africa and its Southern African neighbourhood. This is not a random element but a systematic feature that remains a deep-rooted legacy.

The South African Communist Party (SACP), in its document The South African Road to Socialism” expanded on the above point as follows:

“Another key feature of our CST [Colonialism of a Special Type]-based economy is the predatory role of South African capitalism in our region…For the major part of the 20^th century, South African capital treated our neighbouring countries largely as migrant labour reserves and as zones of mineral and energy extraction.”

Sadly, His Majesty’s loin skins have sealed these facts away from him (Bayade!).

Lastly, it is important to note that the king attacks only the working class and the poor. He does not point his daggers against the owners of big industry, most of whom are of foreign (European) origin. When he calls upon “those from outside to please go back to their countries,” he does not refer to the foreign owners of the mines, the giant factories and the farms, but the working class and the poor who have fled strife and extreme poverty in their countries. In a nutshell, the fight is against the working class of the world; to divide it and thereafter to suppress it. But the working class has no country. The borders of African countries, including South Africa (from which King Zwelithini gets millions of Rands in monies annually), are a product of colonisation. They were drawn by colonialists, something which the colonised people had nothing to do with.

Thankfully, the government of South Africa has not followed King Zwelithini’s narrow and backward approach, nor has it shown any signs of doing so in the future. We look forward to a world where there will be neither alien nor foreigner, but human beings.