30 January 2003
While some newspapers covered the SACP-organised Joe Slovo commemoration seminar on Tuesday 28th in a balanced way, The Star could not resist trying to stir trouble. This month eight years since the death of the SACP’s late chairperson, cde Joe Slovo. We thought it appropriate to have a debate on Slovo’s immense theoretical legacy, inviting critical reflection on the relevance of his writings for our present.
To kick off the debate we had three panellists, Thulas Nxesi, SADTU General Secretary, Joel Netshitenzhe, ANC NWC member, and Jeremy Cronin, SACP deputy general secretary. All spoke in their individual capacities. We wanted to use the occasion to step back a little, to allow an unmandated free exchange. All of this was made very clear, including to members of the media present.
The Star, in its reporting, has chosen to ignore all of this, flouting the spirit and purpose of the event.
For instance, Nxesi is accurately quoted calling for the fostering of a strong culture of robust discussion within our alliance. However, The Star report contrives to turn this into a “COSATU attack on the ANC”. In fact, Nxesi was at pains to insist that all partners had been guilty of labelling each other in the past, and that all had a responsibility for moving in a more constructive direction.
Cronin never attacked President Mbeki, or the AU, as alleged. He did raise critical questions about how we conceptualise our approach to the African crisis of underdevelopment. To quote from the paper he delivered:
“Our government and the ANC have played an outstanding role in seeking to place, on the national, continental and international agenda, the crisis of African under-development. Our government and the ANC are playing a leading, inspiring and often selfless role on many specific fronts, not least in the DRC process, the Burundi peace talks, and in many other initiatives.
“More than the SACP or COSATU, we must admit this, the ANC (and government) senior leadership have helped to put the crisis of Africa’s underdevelopment on to our agenda. This must be acknowledged and appreciated.
“The line of march to overcome Africa’s crisis of underdevelopment has been popularised around at least three central ideas – renaissance, an African century, and partnership (between our continent and the developed North).
“Each of these general organising notions is pointing us in a progressive direction. But are they (individually or collectively) sharp enough? Are they adequate strategic, organising concepts? Or do they suffer from potential shortcomings that can result in confusion, or excessive optimism that might lead to medium-term demoralisation? I do not know. But surely the questions have to be asked – neither sentimentally nor destructively.”
The Star can help to foster a broad public discussion about the key challenges of our time. Or it can short-change us all with a shallow, dumbing-down sensationalism.
CONTACT
Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel – 083 651 0271, Fax – 011 339 4244, Cell – 083 651 0271