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ZACF statement on the "racist anarchists" of Potchefstroom

category southern africa | the left | press release author Wednesday June 27, 2007 18:10author by Jonathan Payn - ZACF (southern Africa) Report this post to the editors

Right-wingers in the South African town of Potchefstroom removed street-signs with the names of liberation figures and replaced them with those of Boer leaders. But the Potch City Council attributed the actions to "racist anarchists".

ZACF STATEMENT ON THE "RACIST ANARCHISTS" OF POTCHEFSTROOM

The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (ZACF) of South Africa and Swaziland notes with concern that the removal and defacement of street signs in Potchefstroom has been attributed without proof by Potchefstroom City Council spokesman Kaiser Mohau to "racist anarchists". We presume that Mohau is simply politically naive in putting about his mistaken attribution of these acts of vandalism. However, his comments have the unfortunate effect of besmirching the good name of the small, but active anarchist movement in southern Africa.

The ZACF wishes to point out that the first trade unions for people of colour" in southern Africa, the Industrial Workers of Africa founded in 1917 and the Indian Workers Industrial Union founded in 1919 were established by anarchist-syndicalists of all colours including Thomas William "Bill" Thibedi (who later became a communist), Bernard Sigamoney, Andrew Dunbar and Johnny Gomas. Anti-racism has always been and remains a fundamental ethic of the anarchist movement. Today, the ZACF, engages in constructive educational work, both within South African townships as well as within the pro-democracy movements of Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Other anarchists are similarly involved in progressive projects that make no distinction of gender, colour or creed.

The vandalism of signs in Potchefstroom, in which the names of liberation figures like Nelson Mandela have been replaced by those of Boer generals like Koos de la Rey, has clearly been carried out by racist right-wingers who are opposed to transformation in South Africa, and not by left-wingers among whom we anarchists proudly count ourselves. We trust that journalists in the broadcast and print media will peruse our website (address below) and will then be able to apply a more sound political analysis to the issue than Mr Mohau has.

best regards
Jonathan Payn
ZACF Federation Secretary
Tel: 078-5774394

Related Link: http://www.zabalaza.net/
author by Kaizer Mohau - Potchefstroom City Councilpublication date Fri Jun 29, 2007 16:14author address author phone 018 299 5073Report this post to the editors

We will never allow vandalism and lawlessness rule in our city

Monday, June 25, 2007

Over the past few Months the Potchefstroom City Council and the city in general have been subjected to crime and lawlessness aimed at causing political and social instability, this phenomenon seem to be prevalent in the entire City of Potchefstroom.

These crimes includes amongst other things, illegal placing of information boards carrying racist and insulting messages directed at our City Council and the changes that are unfolding in the city and the illegal removal of our street names.

We are aware as to the origin of these plans and actions; it is in this context that as the City Council we have instructed our Public safety management and the South African police service to ensure that perpetrators of these crimes are brought to book as a matter of urgency. We cannot allow a situation wherein which people are able to do as they please when they are not satisfied with one thing or another. It cannot be correct that when you have a democratic government which is accountable to the majority of the people who voted for it, you should be intimidated by a group of criminals organized or unorganized.

It is in the same spirit, very important to note that our City Council extend its appreciation to the members of the community in the City of Potchefstroom for having reported these crimes to the City Council and relevant law enforcement agencies. This action by members of the community is a clear indication that our people as well will never succumb to criminal elements.

The information we received from members of our community has led to the discovery of about 15 to 20 street names removed and dumped into the Vaal River, we do at the same time call on all members of the community to be vigilant and report these crimes to relevant law enforcement agencies. The reality is of these crimes is that, this kind of crime is equally making it difficult for instance for our emergency services and the police service to reach addresses in time where an accident or crime occurred.

We hope and trust, as we have said above, that relevant law enforcement agencies will ensure that these criminals are brought to book and change is unfolding without any disturbances.

Kaizer N. Mohau
Spokesperson in the office of the Executive Mayor
Potchefstroom City Council

author by Jonathan Payn - ZACF (southern Africa)publication date Fri Jun 29, 2007 16:25author email international at zabalaza dot netauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Dear C'de. Mohau,

Thank you for sending me this statement. Having now read the original press release it appears that the media have misquoted you in the press, and that your alleged use of the term 'racist anarchists' on air on SAfm with Xolani Gwala this week was not a politically motivated attack on anarchism, but an unfortunate choice of words based an all too common misconception of anarchism, or anarchists.

We are confident that, if you did say this on air, it was not your intention to upset the anarchists of this country, and hope that you will not hold it against us for reacting as we did.

I trust that you will understand our initial offense, as it would be the same as the press referring to the clearly right-wing vandals as 'racist Marxist-Leninists', and hope that you will now consider the matter resolved in a comradely manner.

Yours for Freedom,
Jonathan Payn - on behalf of ZACF.

author by Georgepublication date Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:15author email gpnieuwoudt at yahoo dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

So Kaizer Mohau is driving while under the influence ... that at least explains a few of his statements he made in the past. Now that he killed a young boy, I wonder what he will have to say.

 
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