Key protagonists: De Klerk and Mandela (centre foreground), with Party leader Joe Slovo in background (left)
WORLD NEWS Organisation of Socialist Action (WOSA) was formed in 1990. It brought together many long-standing militants from the Trotskyist tradition with a newer layer of members from the liberation struggle who were disillusioned with the ANC-SACP (Communist compromises with the apartheid National Party. Here, NEVILLE ALEXANDER, WOSA's national chairperson, speaks to Socialist Outlook. "The mass workers' party is an idea whose time has come. Sixty per cent of a random sample of black people recently believed that a mass workers' party is necessary and desirable in South Africa" the current situation in South Africa and the likely short-term developNA. WE STRESS that the settlement presently being negotiated is a 'historic compromise' between the more strategically conscious section of the white capitalist class and the leaders Its purpose is to stabilise and de-racialise capitalism in South Africa in order to more effectively exploit the African market, throughout Southern and Central AfThe ruling National Party have opted for this strategy for a number of reasons. The mass actions of black people, particularly through the mass trade union movement they built in the late "70s and through the 1980s, were wreaking havoc The more conscious ruling class elements realised the time was ripe for a settlement, with the end of the '80s seeing a slight downturn in the liberation struggle in South Africa combining with the ANC back-pedalling - and then collapse of the bureaucratic Soviet regime and the general trumpeting of the global triumph of market forces.
However, as revolutionary socialists, we also stress that the settlement. coming as is does in the depths of global capitalist recession and with the tacit agreement of the ANC leaders not to threaten the commanding heights of white dominated capital, cannot satisfy the real demands of the black working class for decent housing, education, welfare services and jobs.
Therefore the class struggle in South Africa will not only continue, but will intensify and the consciousness of the black masses will increasingly sharpen and shift from race to class.
The debate that we are now helping to initiate around the need for a mass workers' party is an indication of this.
At the moment, however, socialist revolution her is very unlikely in the short to medium term. But the influence of socialist demands and organisations will increase, and at least here we believe there is a glimmer of hope.
Ultimately here, as throughout the world, the possibility of successful and sustained socialist revolution depends on the global situation, and the strength both of the left and of the workers movement internationally. SO. What is WOSA's position on the forthcoming elections? NA. THE LIKELY outcome, an ANC-National Party dominated government of National Unity, will effectively be a white veto on changes in state and business structures.
But we also recognise that one-person one-vote elections are a fundamental advance, won as a result of the mass pressure of the liberation movement. To denounce and boycott them is to marginalise yourself.
We are hoping to put up a workers' list in participation with other socialist groups and independent union and civic militants. How extensive this list will be depends on the degree of unity we can achieve with these other comrades in the available time, but steps have been taken and limited progress has been made. SO. Can you tell me about WOSA's belief in the need for the formation of a mass workers party in South Africa? NA. YES. THE fundamental goal of WOSA is to make a practical contribution to the founding of a mass workers' party that is truly and seriously for workers' interests and workers' government, and is democratic both in its internal and external practices. Far more like the Brazilian Workers' Party (PT) than the British Labour Party in other words!
We cannot build such a party on our own, we believe, and we hope that ultimately its membership will come together many areas; from independent socialists in the unions, the civics and some now in the ANC, from currents in the South African Communist Party and from other socialist groups.
The mass workers' party is an idea whose time has come: The present situation is ripe for a sharpening of the class consciousness of the black masses, with their increasing expectation for radical social change (and the increasing visibility of a small black middle-class) combined with the inability of capitalism to satisfy their demands.
I believe the chances of a mass workers party becoming deep rooted, and even of being elected in the short to medium term, are strong. Sixty per cent of a random sample of black people recently believed that a mass workers' party is necessary and desirable in South Africa.
This reflects, and indeed increased the pressure from the rank and file of these organisations on their leaders to engage in the mass workers' party debate, and to work with us in a general non-sectarian fashion.
The next step in the process we hope will result in the formation of the mass workers' party is the convening of a conference in February where a steering committee will be elected, the purpose of which will be to further promote the mass workers' party idea, and hopefully organise around a workers' list for the elections.
This workers' list will stand on a basic socialist programme, but there is no fixed blueprint for the mass workers' party. It must evolve as more forces are drawn into the project, but obviously we will fight for our politics within this party the same way revolutionary socialists in the Brazilian PT do.
This can be seen as a high risk strategy, but we believe it carries forward the possibility of real living workers' power and democracy, and ensures we won't be marginalised into a 'pure' sectarian ghetto. SO. You mentioned WOSA's understanding of the need for internationalism. What international links does WOSA have, if any? NA. WOSA is not formally affiliated to any international organisation, but it does have strong informal links with the Fourth International and more formal links may come, but only when our membership is ready.
We are very wary of being ensnared in the scholastic and often petty arguments that come within international alignments at such an early stage in our life as an organisation.
But as I have said, we do have an acute understanding of the international character of socialism, and WOSA does see it as one of our tasks to contribute towards a real living international socialist movement, and I would stress that is should be a movement rather than an attempt at an international socialist party.
Yes, we need to unite internationally around certain transitional demands and the transitional method, and strong regional links between revolutionary socialist organisations are both practical and culturally appropriate.
man for the Stalin faction in its only now open to researchers SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No.56, February 5 1994, Page 9