The book delves deep into the neglect of the epistemological factors impacting on working class consciousness, their political astuteness and social progress in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), post 1994. The most glaring omissions in the RSA today, is the inferior general education of the working class, the absence of worker education programmes and civic education. Alas, the shift from apartheid to democratic rule has been characterised by financialisation, malfeasance at government level, the rise of the ‘new’ middle class and the prevailing neglect of addressing working class demands. The book calls for efficacy and rationale in the making of an astute, educated and conscientised working class, organisationally independent from the ruling party and its alliance.
Author(s): Fakier Jessa
Publisher: Self
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 212
City: Cape Town
CONTENTS
From Comrade Chris Thembisile Hani ii
Introduction v
Acronyms ix
BOOK ONE: Fundamentals
1 Workers, what place do you hold in the RSA economy 1
2 Workers’ ownership of economic power 12
3 Past and present regimes: What difference for workers in the RSA? 20
4 Political principles under the microscope 24
5 What ‘freedom struggle’? 35
6 The necessity for science and mathematics in worker
education 46
7 RSA workers regarded with contempt 58
8 ‘Poverty trap’ - a capitalist expression 73
9 Workers against party and state 84
10 Phambili RSA workers! 94
Summary 100
BOOK TWO: Killing working class consciousness
In the words of Leon Trotsky 102 Let’s make this point … 104
Introduction 107
11 Racism, stereotyping and prejudice 110
12 South African schooling betray workers! 119
13 SADTU has relinquished its independence to the
Alliance 127
14 Working class scholars are alienated from IT and
E-learning 137
15 Municipal councillors: A fine line between
self-interest, party interests and public interest 143
16 The political responsibility of South African workers 152
17 The nature of conservative politics in South Africa 156
18 Killing working class consciousness in South Africa 166
19 SABC TV, radio and the Americanisation of the
working class 171
20 Conclusion 183
Terminology explained 185
