The limits of capitalists reform in South Africa
- University of the Western Cape
- Authors: University of the Western Cape
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Capitalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Congresses , Marx, Karl,1818-1883 , Marx, Karl,1818-1883 -- Influence , Democracy -- South Africa -- Congresses , Socialism -- South Africa -- Congresses , Communism -- South Africa -- Congresses
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76027 , vital:30493
- Description: Until a few years ago, it was widely held that, ‘apartheid cannot be reformed, it can only be destroyed’. Today, all participants in the negotiation process are agreed that one fundamental characteristic of the social order must be preserved: the new South Africa is to be a capitalist society; the productive wealth of the country will be the private property of a small number of capitalists, and the vast majority will try to sell their labour for a wage to capitalists who will buy it only when that labour can contribute to their profits. There is still disagreement about how small or large the number of capitalists will be; about the colour of their skins; about who they will appoint to manage their mines, banks, factories and farms for them; about the rules that will govern disputes over wages; and above all about the use that the state will make of the taxes paid from their profits. There is also disagreement about the extent to which capitalism can afford to meet popular needs. But all of these disagreements take place within the framework of a common belief that the future is capitalist. The aim of this seminar series, held by the Marxist Theory Seminar at the University of the Western Cape in April/May 1993, was to pose the question: What are the limits of social reform in a capitalist South Africa? Can the fundamental needs and aspirations of the vast majority of South Africans be met within a capitalist framework? Very often these questions are brushed aside with the argument that, given the present balance of local and international forces, there is no alternative to capitalism in SA today. Even if this argument is correct, it still remains necessary to ask what can be achieved within the framework of the capitalist society to which there is no alternative. If that question is not posed in the most rigorous way, all kinds of illusions will be created about what the future holds in store for us. The question of the limits of capitalist reform in SA is posed as it concerns five different areas; democracy, education, economic growth and employment, land and the oppression of women. What will democracy mean in a new SA which depends on foreign investment and capitalist profitability? Can the education crisis be resolved while meeting the needs of capitalist growth? Will economic growth take place in a capitalist SA, and will this lead to the creation of jobs and a higher standard of living for the majority? Can land be restored to the dispossessed, the virtual slavery of millions of farm workers ended, and land used in a way that produces food for all? What are the prospects of ending the oppression of women in a capitalist South Africa? MTS does not believe that there are simple answers to these questions. Certainly, these questions cannot be answered by a general condemnation of the inequality and inhumanity of capitalism. In each case, it is necessary to give clear answers to such questions as: Has capitalism served historically to support the struggle for democracy or to oppose it? How has it affected education in SA? What are the present interests of the capitalists in solving the land question, or giving women control of their lives? To what extent can capitalism be forced to make concessions - to provide jobs, for example - by the struggles of the oppressed? In the past, capitalism has shown itself to be much more flexible than its critics have supposed. That does not mean that capitalism can do anything it likes, nor that the working class can force it to meet whatever demands it has. One of the indispensable insights of Marxism is that processes of social change are not determined by the intentions or integrity of political leaders, but rather by the fundamental relationships of society and the ability of the major classes to pursue their interests created by these relationships. We hope that the publication of this seminar series contributes to making this insight available to a wider audience. , Marxist theory seminar
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
- Authors: University of the Western Cape
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Capitalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Congresses , Marx, Karl,1818-1883 , Marx, Karl,1818-1883 -- Influence , Democracy -- South Africa -- Congresses , Socialism -- South Africa -- Congresses , Communism -- South Africa -- Congresses
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76027 , vital:30493
- Description: Until a few years ago, it was widely held that, ‘apartheid cannot be reformed, it can only be destroyed’. Today, all participants in the negotiation process are agreed that one fundamental characteristic of the social order must be preserved: the new South Africa is to be a capitalist society; the productive wealth of the country will be the private property of a small number of capitalists, and the vast majority will try to sell their labour for a wage to capitalists who will buy it only when that labour can contribute to their profits. There is still disagreement about how small or large the number of capitalists will be; about the colour of their skins; about who they will appoint to manage their mines, banks, factories and farms for them; about the rules that will govern disputes over wages; and above all about the use that the state will make of the taxes paid from their profits. There is also disagreement about the extent to which capitalism can afford to meet popular needs. But all of these disagreements take place within the framework of a common belief that the future is capitalist. The aim of this seminar series, held by the Marxist Theory Seminar at the University of the Western Cape in April/May 1993, was to pose the question: What are the limits of social reform in a capitalist South Africa? Can the fundamental needs and aspirations of the vast majority of South Africans be met within a capitalist framework? Very often these questions are brushed aside with the argument that, given the present balance of local and international forces, there is no alternative to capitalism in SA today. Even if this argument is correct, it still remains necessary to ask what can be achieved within the framework of the capitalist society to which there is no alternative. If that question is not posed in the most rigorous way, all kinds of illusions will be created about what the future holds in store for us. The question of the limits of capitalist reform in SA is posed as it concerns five different areas; democracy, education, economic growth and employment, land and the oppression of women. What will democracy mean in a new SA which depends on foreign investment and capitalist profitability? Can the education crisis be resolved while meeting the needs of capitalist growth? Will economic growth take place in a capitalist SA, and will this lead to the creation of jobs and a higher standard of living for the majority? Can land be restored to the dispossessed, the virtual slavery of millions of farm workers ended, and land used in a way that produces food for all? What are the prospects of ending the oppression of women in a capitalist South Africa? MTS does not believe that there are simple answers to these questions. Certainly, these questions cannot be answered by a general condemnation of the inequality and inhumanity of capitalism. In each case, it is necessary to give clear answers to such questions as: Has capitalism served historically to support the struggle for democracy or to oppose it? How has it affected education in SA? What are the present interests of the capitalists in solving the land question, or giving women control of their lives? To what extent can capitalism be forced to make concessions - to provide jobs, for example - by the struggles of the oppressed? In the past, capitalism has shown itself to be much more flexible than its critics have supposed. That does not mean that capitalism can do anything it likes, nor that the working class can force it to meet whatever demands it has. One of the indispensable insights of Marxism is that processes of social change are not determined by the intentions or integrity of political leaders, but rather by the fundamental relationships of society and the ability of the major classes to pursue their interests created by these relationships. We hope that the publication of this seminar series contributes to making this insight available to a wider audience. , Marxist theory seminar
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
Trade unions, community organisation and politics: a local case study on the East Rand
- Authors: Holdt, K von
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Labour unions -- South Africa , Labour unions -- Political activity -- South Africa , Community development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73269 , vital:30171
- Description: This dissertation sets out as a challenge to two trends in the analysis of the trade union movement. The first trend implies that there is no fundamental difference in political strategy between the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) which was formed in 1985 and included amongst others all the FOSATU affiliates. Swilling for instance writes that the unions established in the 1970s "shunned distinctions between economic and political issues and stridently challenged state policies" (Swilling, 1987: 2). Maree too implies that the involvement of the industrial unions in community and political struggles in the mid-1980s was not incompatible with their earlier position (1987: 10).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
- Authors: Holdt, K von
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Labour unions -- South Africa , Labour unions -- Political activity -- South Africa , Community development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73269 , vital:30171
- Description: This dissertation sets out as a challenge to two trends in the analysis of the trade union movement. The first trend implies that there is no fundamental difference in political strategy between the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) which was formed in 1985 and included amongst others all the FOSATU affiliates. Swilling for instance writes that the unions established in the 1970s "shunned distinctions between economic and political issues and stridently challenged state policies" (Swilling, 1987: 2). Maree too implies that the involvement of the industrial unions in community and political struggles in the mid-1980s was not incompatible with their earlier position (1987: 10).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
What is a credit union?
- Authors: Cape Credit Union League
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Credit unions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76251 , vital:30526
- Description: A credit union is a self-help financial co-operative where people, who are united by a Common Bond, agree to save money together and, to make loans to one another at low rates of interest. The common bond is the most important characteristic of a credit union because credit unions are founded on trust and unless members already have something in common, they have no basis for trusting one another. The purpose of the common bond is to protect members' interests and members' funds. It also fosters a spirit commitment and co-operation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
- Authors: Cape Credit Union League
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Credit unions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76251 , vital:30526
- Description: A credit union is a self-help financial co-operative where people, who are united by a Common Bond, agree to save money together and, to make loans to one another at low rates of interest. The common bond is the most important characteristic of a credit union because credit unions are founded on trust and unless members already have something in common, they have no basis for trusting one another. The purpose of the common bond is to protect members' interests and members' funds. It also fosters a spirit commitment and co-operation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
Illustrated souvenir of the Industrial and Arts Exhibition held at Grahamstown, December 1898 to January 1899
- Date: 1899
- Subjects: Commercial products South Africa Grahamstown History , Church buildings South Africa Grahamstown , Schools South Africa Grahamstown , Merchants South Africa Grahamstown , Buildings South Africa Grahamstown , South Africa History 1836-1909 , Grahamstown Literary and Social Institute , Bloukrans Bridge (Eastern Cape, South Africa) -- Pictorial works Pictorial works , Grahamstown (South Africa) Pictorial works
- Language: English
- Type: book , illustrated works , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/107752 , vital:32887 , Cory Library for Humanities Research, Rhodes University Library, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Description: This publication, dated 1899, serves as souvenir publication of the industrial and arts exhibition held at Grahamstown, Cape Colony, between December 1898 and January 1899.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1899
- Date: 1899
- Subjects: Commercial products South Africa Grahamstown History , Church buildings South Africa Grahamstown , Schools South Africa Grahamstown , Merchants South Africa Grahamstown , Buildings South Africa Grahamstown , South Africa History 1836-1909 , Grahamstown Literary and Social Institute , Bloukrans Bridge (Eastern Cape, South Africa) -- Pictorial works Pictorial works , Grahamstown (South Africa) Pictorial works
- Language: English
- Type: book , illustrated works , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/107752 , vital:32887 , Cory Library for Humanities Research, Rhodes University Library, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Description: This publication, dated 1899, serves as souvenir publication of the industrial and arts exhibition held at Grahamstown, Cape Colony, between December 1898 and January 1899.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1899
What is a co-operative?
- Authors: Crankshaw, Paul
- Date: [Date of publication not identified]
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa , Producer cooperatives -- South Africa , Consumer cooperatives -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/75688 , vital:30448
- Description: The word ‘co-operative’ means to work together for a common goal. A co-operative is a group of people who together own and control an organisation or a business for the benefit of its members. A co-operative is democratic, and so the members of the co-operative are responsible to each other. They work for themselves; and together they decide how to run the co-operative and how to share the profits. , This booklet was put together by members of Cope, with the help of Paul Crankshaw (editing and layout), Leslie Lawson (photographs and interviews) and Sue Beattie (drawings)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: [Date of publication not identified]
- Authors: Crankshaw, Paul
- Date: [Date of publication not identified]
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa , Producer cooperatives -- South Africa , Consumer cooperatives -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/75688 , vital:30448
- Description: The word ‘co-operative’ means to work together for a common goal. A co-operative is a group of people who together own and control an organisation or a business for the benefit of its members. A co-operative is democratic, and so the members of the co-operative are responsible to each other. They work for themselves; and together they decide how to run the co-operative and how to share the profits. , This booklet was put together by members of Cope, with the help of Paul Crankshaw (editing and layout), Leslie Lawson (photographs and interviews) and Sue Beattie (drawings)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: [Date of publication not identified]
Conference: Healing Through Heritage and Memorialisation: NMMU Missionvale Campus, Nelson Mandela Bay
- Subjects: South Africa -- History -- 20th century , Government, Resistance to -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41378 , vital:36455 , Bulk File 7
- Description: The Northern Areas History and Heritage Project consists of a variety workshops and materials examining the history of this part of Port Elizabeth to which people of colour had been removed in the 1970s. The materials include a book and DVD on the Northern Areas Uprising; six booklets entitled ‘Feasibility Study: Imagining a Cultural/ Healing Centre for the Northern Areas of Nelson Mandela Bay’ covering topics such as the Northern Areas Uprising, healing through memorialisation, architecture, non-profit organisations, archives and databases; 35 DVDs consisting of interviews with individuals, communities and focus groups, as well as a Winter School Project on Apartheid and the Group Areas Act. Also included are two maps relating to the area’s history.
- Full Text: false
- Subjects: South Africa -- History -- 20th century , Government, Resistance to -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41378 , vital:36455 , Bulk File 7
- Description: The Northern Areas History and Heritage Project consists of a variety workshops and materials examining the history of this part of Port Elizabeth to which people of colour had been removed in the 1970s. The materials include a book and DVD on the Northern Areas Uprising; six booklets entitled ‘Feasibility Study: Imagining a Cultural/ Healing Centre for the Northern Areas of Nelson Mandela Bay’ covering topics such as the Northern Areas Uprising, healing through memorialisation, architecture, non-profit organisations, archives and databases; 35 DVDs consisting of interviews with individuals, communities and focus groups, as well as a Winter School Project on Apartheid and the Group Areas Act. Also included are two maps relating to the area’s history.
- Full Text: false