Socialist Youth Movement - UFS Branch

04/01/2017

About 300 000 matriculants passed with admission to bachelor degree and a national diploma. This is a cohort of students that qualify to be in our universities. This is surely a course to celebrate, and for many students to rejoice for the harvest of their hardwork. However, spatial and financial aspects bring sudden sadness to our brothers and sisters.

The universities have limited space for intake of first year learners. Some learners will sit at home the entire year because of this problem. For this problem, the government ought to build more institutions.

The other problematic aspect is financial difficulties. The cost of university fees is already expensive in the country. Hence fees must fall. With this lot of students, even the increase in NSFAS budget will not make any significant difference as far as finacial exclusions are concerned. Let's fight for free education.

03/01/2017

http://workerssocialistparty.co.za/new-year-statement-2017/

As 2017 opens, the Workers and Socialist Party continues to stand in solidarity with the struggles of the working class, poor communities and the youth and students. We will not offer any false words and empty promises like the capitalist politicians in their new year statements. For the working cla...

01/09/2016

Every attempt to give the downtrodden a voice or to empower them by attempting to organize them towards picket lines must be supported. In previously unorganized, fragmented and apathetic spaces, picket lines are means to build the confidence of the oppressed groups and give them an organized collective expression.in newly created vibrant spaces, it pickets and marches are still ways to sustain the momentum. Seeing this, those who have lost hope in the institutional structures and parliamentary activity, will find an instrument of expressing their grievances, which soon will transform into a combative organized activity if led and managed well.

Two lessons:

One lesson is that, where masses are, revolutionaries must be, regardless of the mediocre program or sheepy leadership. It is there we belong, not anywhere. It is there that you can open the eyes of masses.

Second lesson is that, a revolutionary can unmask the glossiness of a program if he/she actually participate in it. Criticizing from distance just disqualifies that critic in the eyes of the people you are appealing to their conscience and attempting to raise their level of consciousness. However, the application of this second lessons is contextual and deep a practical calculation. In other instance, you may take a different stance based on the practical calculations.

It is for this reason, that we will be supporting the SRC organized march today. Until such mood and action for combativity arises, marches and pickets are the only extra-parliamentary collective activity.

Whilst demanding changes on the institutional policies that contribute in fostering the kind of institutional culture we find at UFS, do not forget that the WSF proposed an extra-parliamentary committee to combat racism, Anti-racism Defence Unit/Committee. See to it that the structure is established. We cannot beg anyone to defend ourselves. It is extra-parliamentary activities that push parliamentary structures to make corresponding adjustments and changes.

19/08/2016

Racism and Indignity at the University of the Free State (UFS)

One of our outsourced security workers has been sprinkled with urine on Marikana day, the 16th of August 2016, by a white student. This incident happened at Gate 3 (Medical Gate) of the Bloemfontein Campus at the UFS. This is after the security worker, who was doing her job meticulously, had gave the racist students the option to go back to their resident on campus to fetch a valid document (ID or Student card) in order to exit the campus.

This is on top of the fact that this year alone, workers have reported other serious incidents on racism and indignity. Namely, the Shimla Park incident; the outsourced workers working for Phadisi thrown at with eggs by white pupils whilst on duty at Harmony student resident; the outsourced cleaning workers from Bidvest insulted by a promoter of the Seven Star energy drink and the daily dehumanising insults that the workers get from their bosses.

Though the investigation by the UFS protection service is underway on the current issue, the Workers and Students Forum has resolved to embark on a protest march on Tuesday, the 23rd of August 2016, and submit a memorandum to the university management. All other issues of this nature were referred to campus security, but there is no progress to date.

A protracted fight must be launched against the inhumane acts of racism and indignity on our campus. We must mobilize and fight against racism and other forms of dehumanisation without compromise. We must point out to white workers that their place is not on the other side of the barricades with the capitalists that we are determined to overthrow to cleanse society of all its barbarism and the racist bigotry it fuels. Unity of workers and youth is necessary to fight racism and all its transmitters including culture.

For more info:

Trevor Shaku for Workers and Students Forum - UFS (WSF)
073 378 7049

Vuyo Mapombo for Socialist Youth Movement - UFS (SYM)
062 551 6519

06/08/2016

The masses can rely only on their own organisation, their own power and their own programme. , their experience of the struggle itself will undoubtedly burn away illusions and mistaken ideas and compel the different forces to converge around a common programme of action. But to ensure that the process of clarification in consciousness proceeds towards an understanding of the need for the overthrow of capitalism and the socialist transformation of society, what is posed is in fact the most important task: the building of a mass revolutionary party of workers and small farmers on a socialist programme. Led by such a party, the masses of Zimbabwe can break the chain of global capitalism at one of its weakest links; join forces with the powerful SA working class and throughout the region to create a socialist Zimbabwe, as a step towards a socialist federation of Southern Africa, a Socialist Pan Africa and a socialist world.


http://workerssocialistparty.co.za/mugabe-must-fall/

The Workers and Socialist Party salutes the youth and workers of Zimbabwe for their courage and determination in standing up to Mugabe’s Zanu-PF dictatorship. We condemn the statement by ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe that the rising up of the masses is the work of a “Third Force.” It demonstr...

28/06/2016

For immediate release: Racism at University of the Free State

Two black outsourced workers had eggs thrown at them by white pupils who had visited the University of the Free State (UFS) during the spring holidays (21 – 25 March). The incident happened at House Outeniqua, one of student residences on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The affected workers, Lawrence Malebo and Mvelisi Mathumbu, lodged a case with the UFS Protection Service immediately after the incident. However there is no progress. The workers report that neither has the school come out to apologize to the workers nor compensation arranged for them. The fury of workers is fuelled by the fact that had they been the ones accused, their companies would have immediately suspended them and the university would have recommended a permanent site-removal.

We must mobilize against racism. We cannot tolerate the continued dehumanisation of black people and other groups of victims. We call on the university to act decisively against any racist act. As a result, the Workers and Students Forum (WSF) have resolved to embark on a protest action.

As Malcolm X said, there can be no capitalism without racism. To defeat capitalism we must confront racism head-on. The ideas of white supremacy and the cultural attitudes associated with are part of the armoury of capitalism to keep workers divided, aimed at imbuing white workers with a false sense of superiority, and to encourage the treatment of blacks like sub-humans. The white working class in SA has no future without lining up behind the black working class on the basis of complete equality in a common struggle against capitalism.
We must fight the evil of racism without compromise. We must point out to white workers that their place is not on the other side of the barricades with the capitalists that we are determined to overthrow to cleanse society of all its barbarism – poverty, mass unemployment, inequality and the racist bigotry it fuels. Unity of workers and youth is necessary to fight racism and all its transmitters including culture.

We must organize against Racism!



Trevor Shaku
073 378 7049

Kamohelo Maphike
072 775 3872

11/05/2016

Philosophers have interpreted the world, the point however, is to change it.

- Karl Marx

17/03/2016

27/02/2016

The protests that erupted at The UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE. The contracted workers were determined to dismantle the chains of exploitation of labour. They fought until their demands were met.

We salute their eagerness to challenge the capitalist system. Their will to to fight for a decent wage, although it is not a living wage on the basis of the material conditions. But it's the first step.

Abo'mama no baba led us well.

Qina Msebenzi Qina! !!

22/02/2016

One Of the cadres of Socialist Youth Movement Trevor Shaku was arrested earlier today.
We as the Socialist Youth Movement _UFS support the notion of a Campus ShutDown until the cadre Shaku and the Workers have been released.

An Injury to one is an Injury To All.

03/02/2016

The comrades of The Socialist Youth Movement of The University of The Free State leading the most genuine revolution . They have dedicated to achieve workers rights and with the most commitment ever. Even in their participation they have never compromised their academic duties. Socialist Youth Movement _ UFS is a force to be reckoned with.

14/01/2016

ATTENTION SOCIALIST OF SOUTH AFRICA.

We have a meeting at University of The Free State. The venue for the meeting will be at the Institute of Reconciliation and Social Justice (ufs bloem campus )
Time at 11:00 Am.

Agenda is based on the role we have to play as The Socialist Youth Movement in the upcoming student protests.