www.agp.org | global action

South Africa

S26 South Africa: press clips from Joburg, Cape Town protests
more on South Africa

South Africans protest against IMF's debt relief policy September 26, 2000.

A group of protesters gathered in front of the United States Embassy in Cape Town under the banner of Jubilee 2000 to protest against the debt relief policy of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund today. The protest coincides with the international protest in Prague where the World Bank and the IMF are meeting. Jubilee 2000 is a lobby calling for the cancellation of the debt of heavily indebted nations. The protesters, which included representatives of various non-governmental organisations and the labour movement in the Western Cape, called for the abolition of the World Bank and the IMF. They also called for an end to Gear, the government's macro-economic policy, saying that it is just another World Bank programme causing job losses. The once-mighty Western Cape textile industry has suffered extensive job losses in the past few years. Jubilee 2000 says the industry, which employs mostly women, needs more protection. The protesters became agitated when the US embassy declined to accept the memorandum. Protest leaders instead had to take the memorandum inside, accusing the US of being both the protector and benefactor of the World Bank and the IMF. In Gauteng, scenes reminiscent of anti-apartheid protests played out outside Anglo American's head office in Johannesburg, when anti-globalisation protesters clashed with company security officers. Under the banner of the September 26th Collective, a broad coalition of political parties, non-governmental organisations and South Africa's largest trade union federation, Cosatu, marched through downtown Johannesburg. The protesters say the secret policy formulation process of the IMF and World Bank are designed to serve the interests of the world's most powerful nations and individuals. The plight of the poor and the unemployed are relegated to the back burner, they say. Earlier, speakers slammed the policies of the IMF and World Bank and those of the South African ministers of trade and industry, and environmental affairs.

JOHANNESBURG – As part of the global protests to coincide with the September 26 (S26) protests in Prague against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, more than 300 activists from numerous South African political and community organisations and trade unions held a rally and march in Johannesburg.

The rally took place in the heart of the city from late morning. Hundreds of participants and observers witnessed a colourful and lively anti-capitalist "festival" that included much toyi-toying, poetry, music and several speeches by activists, including representatives of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, South African Communist Party, the Socialist Party of Azania, Workers' Organisation for Socialist Action, the Campaign Against Neo-Liberalism in South Africa, Earthlife Africa, Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, Keep Left, the Pan Africanist Congress, the Anti-Privatisation Forum and many others from South Africa's left.

After the rally, hundreds marched through downtown Johannesburg, accompanied by street puppets, a maze of political banners and colourful placards decrying the oppression and injustice of the IMF and World Bank. The rallying call of the participants was to "shut down" both imperialist institutions, to cancel the apartheid debt and for the South African government to abandon its neo-liberal GEAR economic policy that is slowly strangling the workers and poor of South Africa.

The march stopped at various government buildings, such as the departments of health and local government, where protesters did the famous toyi-toyi and handed over memorandums outlining their demands. The last stop on the peaceful and festive march was the headquarters of South Africa's largest capitalist conglomerate, Anglo-American.

When the marchers attempted to enter the foyer of the building to deliver a memorandum, Anglo-American security guards attacked them with tear gas and truncheons. The attack by the guards created a very volatile situation. Most of the protesters inside at the time were overcome by the tear gas and in the pandemonium that followed one protester was slightly injured and a glass door smashed. Some protesters made it clear to the security guards that if the unwarranted behaviour continued, they would fight back.

After a tense standoff, Anglo-American management arrived and were lambasted by the protesters who then left peacefully. It came as no surprise that South Africa's national print and electronic media reported widely on the protest the following day, however, they offered a sensationalised version of the protest, focusing on the "violence" at Anglo-American.

In Cape Town, 200 protesters mobilised against the IMF and the World Bank at the US consulate. Watched by a large number of police, the demonstrators, many from the Western Cape Jubilee 2000 branch, chanted "Away with the IMF", "World Bank corrupt" and "Scrap all Third World debt". The US consulate refused to receive a memorandum from the protesters "for security reasons".

S26: A South Africa report
Tue, 10 Oct 2000 07:52:27

Apologies for the late report and crossposting... The first note below comes from a stalwart activist, Dale Mckinley (drdalet@wn.apc.org); the second is a compilation of press clips; the third is the list of Jo'burg events.

Momentum is terrific, with great consciousness-raising having been achieved. Most of today's SA Sunday newspapers acknowledge the futility of Trevor Manuel's approach and the inevitability of more confrontations with activists. And World Bank Bond Boycotts and Citibank protests (partly in relation to reparations demands for past lending damage) are now moving to advanced planning stages. Stay tuned, and join us, if you are in the neighbourhood!

(Anglo American Corporation is the largest corporation in Africa, and, dating to its mining origins 150 years ago, was the most systematic abuser of apartheid-era AND post-apartheid race, gender and class power...)

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: "Dale T. McKinley" <drdalet@sn.apc.org>
Subject: Re: Write up on events at S-26 demo and Anglo-American
- for your lists Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 17:29:37 +0200

September 26th demonstrations in Johannesburg -
What really happened and what really counts.

As part of the global September 26th protests against the IMF and World Bank, activists from numerous South African political, union and community organisations held a rally and march in Johannesburg. The rally took place in the heart of Johannesburg from late morning and the hundreds of participants and observers witnessed a colourful and lively anti-capitalist 'festival' that included much toyi-toying, poetry, music and several speeches by activists representing organisations that included: the Socialist Party of Azania; Campaign Against Neo-Liberalism in South Africa; Earthlife Africa; Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee; Keep Left; the Pan Africanist Congress; the Anti-Privatisation Forum; COSATU and many others from across South Africa's progressive/left.

After the rally, hundreds began marching through downtown Johannesburg, accompanied by street puppets, a maze of political banners and colourful placards decrying the oppression and injustice of the IMF and World Bank. The demands/rallying call of the participants was to SHUT DOWN both of these imperialist institutions, to cancel the apartheid debt and for the SA government to abandon its GEAR economic policy that is slowly killing the workers and poor of South Africa and the Southern African region.

The march proceeded to various government buildings in the city (Departments of Health and Local Government) where particpants did the famous toyi-toyi and handed over memorandums outlining the demands. The last stop of the march, which had taken place in a peaceful and festive manner, was the Head Quarters of SAs largest capitalist conglomerate - Anglo-American. When partipants attempted to enter the foyer of the building to deliver the memorandum, Anglo-American security guards attacked participants with teargas and truncheons. The attack by the security guards at Anglo-American was of their own doing and was an offensive action that was completely out of bounds and created (not surprisingly) a very volatile situation. Most of the protesters inside at the time were overcome by the teargas and in the pandemonium that followed one protester was slightly injured and a glass door smashed. Some of the protesters made it clear to the security guards that if they continued with their unwarranted and ofrensive behaviour, they would fight back. After a tense standoff, Anglo-American management arrived and were duly lambasted by the protesters who then left peacefully.

It came as no surprise that the national print and visual media reported widely on the protest the following day, with many reports, not surprisingly, offering a sensationalised verison of the entire protest focusing on the 'violent' conflict at Anglo-American.

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
SOME OF THE MAIN PRESS REPORTS ON S26 ACTIONS ACROSS SA:

________________________________________________
A Beeld 27/9/00

Violence at Anglo HQ

Thami Nkwanyane

Violent demonstrations against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were held at Anglo American's head office in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Protesters burst into the foyer of Anglo's head office. Windows were smashed, and security guards responded by firing pepper gas to protect the group's employees.

Anglo's management was caught completely off guard and were initially unaware of what the protest was about. Only later, after the clashes between the security guards and the protesters did they find out that the opposition was in fact against the IMF and the World Bank, and not against Anglo. From the library gardens, the protesters also marched to the Gauteng departments of health, housing and finance, where memorandums were handed over to senior officials.

In Cape Town too, a smaller number of protesters raised their objections against the IMF and the World Bank at the American consulate. The group of about a hundred protesters - including members of the Western Cape Jubilee 2000 branch - amidst a strong police presence, shouted slogans like "Away with the IMF", "World Bank corrupt" and "Scrap all third-world debt" outside the consulate.

The protest looked as if it might get out of hand when a group of protesters gathered on the steps in front of the entrance to the consulate at about 1 o'clock and threatened to enter the building. About 15 policemen armed with plastic shields intervened to stop them. For security reasons, the American consulate refused to allow an official to receive the memorandum outside the building. Jubilee 2000 provincial secretary Phelisa Nkomo read the memorandum to the protesters before she handed it over to Mrs M B Lenard of the consulate inside the building.

"We support the hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world who are making use of this opportunity to protest against the World Bank and the IMF - of which America is the protector and benefactor. We say the World Bank means nothing but increasing poverty for us," Nkomo said. But Anglo accepted the document from more than 300 members of the 26 September Collective - an organisation of anti-privatisation and globalisation organisations.

The Collective, which held a similar march in Durban, called on Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and the World Bank's Mamphele Ramphele to break their ties with these organisations. Jubilee 2000's Ibrahim Rass said it is important for the fight against these organisations to take place on the local level so that people would be aware of something that will make them poorer and poorer. Most of the speakers called for the IMF and the World Bank to be closed down since they make the rich richer and make the poor struggle.
http://livenews.24.com/News24/Finance/Companies/0,1466,2-8-24_917768,00.html

________________________________________________
Daily Dispatch 27/9/00

SA groups back Prague protesters

JOHANNESBURG — Representatives of civic associations, the South African Municipal Workers' Union and the South African Communist Party were among 150 protesters sprayed with pepper gas when they tried to force their way into the offices of Anglo American here to hand over a memorandum yesterday afternoon.

They were protesting against World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies which they argue are not benefiting developing countries.

The joint annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank opened in Prague yesterday to massive demonstrations at the venue where finance officials from 182 nations are meeting.

According to SACP spokesperson Claire Ceruti, protesters marched without incident from Library Gardens just after noon to the Department of Health where they handed over a memorandum to the Gauteng district health services chief director, Dr Refik Bismilla.

The memorandum outlined their objection to the World Bank's R1,4 billion health care loan to the South African government.

Protesters then marched to the Local Government Department to hand over a memorandum rejecting the government's Growth, Employment and Redistribution policy and the iGoli 2002 restructuring plan, which they say are influenced by IMF and World Bank policies.

Anglo American spokesperson Anne Dunn said security officials stopped protesters when they tried to force their way into the foyer of the offices at about 2.40pm.

Dunn said protesters were sprayed with "pepper fog" after they had assaulted security staff.

Ceruti admitted that protesters tried to "push their way into the building" but denied they had been aggressive.

"Although members of the media had been briefed to be present during the protest, Anglo American had no prior knowledge of the planned action, nor the fact that it would be requested to accept a petition," Dunn said.

Ceruti said World Bank and IMF policies encouraged countries to cut back funding from national government to local government.

"We want government to provide funds for local government through company tax, as many of them got rich as a result of apartheid."

She said Anglo American was targeted for the protest because like other multi-nationals such as Coca Cola and Nike, "they are pushing their priorities on weaker countries". Earthlife Africa and the South African Students' Congress were among the protesters. Police said they had no presence at the march as they had not been notified.

* In Cape Town yesterday, about 100 members of the Western Cape branch of Jubilee 2000 staged a picket outside the American Embassy on the foreshore, calling for the cancellation of all the debt owed by developing countries. The protest was part of countrywide demonstrations against the World Bank and IMF, coinciding with the meeting of the two institutions in Prague yesterday.

The action was supported by the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Municipal Workers' Union, as well as members of the Islamic Unity Convention and other religious organisations. Cosatu's regional secretary Anthony Dietrich said yesterday's action would not be the last. "It's just the beginning. We will be back and we will fill up the streets." — Sapa
http://www.dispatch.co.za/2000/09/27/southafrica/ABACK.HTM

___________________________________________________

Daily Mail and Guardian 27/9/00

IMF policies spark violent clashes

OWN CORRESPONDENT, AFP and AP, Johannesburg | Wednesday

SECURITY guards at the Johannesburg offices of mining giant Anglo American sprayed about 150 demonstrators with pepper spray as they arrived to protest IMF and World Bank policies. Their protest came as several hundred like-minded demonstrators clashed violently with police in Prague as the two financial institutions held a general meeting in the Czech capital. Company representative Anne Dunn said security guards stopped the protesters when they tried to force their way into the foyer of the building and sprayed them with pepper spray after they assaulted security staff. A glass door at the company's downtown offices was also smashed. Claire Ceruti, spokeswoman for the South African Communist Party, one of the organisers, said one protester received a blow to her head during the scuffle. She said Anglo American was targeted because like other multi-nationals, such as Coca Cola and Nike, "they are pushing their priorities on weaker countries". An Anglo American executive later accepted a statement from the protesters. In Prague, police are on guard outside the convention centre after demonstrators succeeded in disrupting the annual meeting. Under coloured banners and in a festive mood, marchers defied a police ban and set off from downtown Prague for the centre, 1,5km away. The IMF and the Bank have been attacked for imposing harsh conditions on poor countries that borrow from them, conditions that force local authorities to divert resources away from health, education and the environment. Delegates were trapped briefly inside the centre during the riot. SA Finance minister, Trevor Manuel, who is chairman of the summit, said it was "a pity that it has descended into violence" but added it was unclear what the activists were seeking. "I know what they're against but have no sense of what they're for," Manuel said. http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/business.html#imf

_____________________________________________
Cape Times 27/9/00

Anglo teargasses anti-capitalist protesters

September 26 2000 at 09:55PM

By Eric Ntabazalila

Anti-capitalism protesters in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg were involved in heated exchanges with police on Tuesday, as they demonstrated against the meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) being held in Prague in the Czech Republic.

Fellow-demonstrators on Tuesday hurled cobblestones torn from Prague's historic streets and torched police with Molotov cocktails as they made good on vows to besiege the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

A march in Johannesburg nearly got out of hand when protesters were teargassed and a glass door was shattered at the headquarters of Anglo American Corporation.

The marchers handed memoranda to government representatives at government offices and then went to the Anglo American headquarters in Main Street.

'A crowd of aggressive protesters made an unauthorised entry' When the marchers tried to make their way into the building, they were sprayed with teargas in the foyer.

A woman suffered minor injuries when she bumped her head against the wall. The outside of the building was sprayed with graffiti.

Anglo American said: "A crowd of confrontational and aggressive protesters made an unauthorised and forced entry into the foyer of the building. The protesters assaulted Anglo American's security personnel, and to protect its employees and to prevent further access to the building, pepperfog spray was released inside the building."

The Johannesburg march was one of several worldwide to highlight "the damage caused by the organisations to the poor".

Speakers condemned the South African government for its adoption of the Gear (Growth, Employment and Redistribution) economic policy, saying it enriched a few black elite and led to job losses.

'Africa faces a number of critical challenges' Among the organisations which took part were the SACP, PAC, Socialist Party of Azania, Workers' Organisation for Socialist Action and other groups affiliated to the Anti-Privatisation Forum.

A representative from the Workers' Organisation for Socialist Action said: "The ANC government has made many promises, but has fulfilled very few. Inequality and poverty has increased and rural communities are all but forgotten. In some instances, we are even struggling to prevent the new state from reversing some of the gains made by the democratic government under apartheid."

Manuel said Africa faced a number of "critical challenges" as the continent with the most catching up do in growth and development.

He said projected African growth rates were insufficient to raise per capita incomes, and its share of world trade and foreign direct investment were "miniscule".

Growth rates of five percent were required simply to stop the number of poor in Africa from increasing, he said, and seven percent annual growth would be needed to achieve the goal of halving severe poverty by 2015. He contrasted these goals with projected growth for 2000 for the continent of 3,5 percent.

In Cape Town, a US embassy representative who was expected to receive a memorandum from Jubilee 2000 protesters outside the embassy angered the crowd when he refused to come out, saying he feared for his safety.

Anthony Dietrich, Jubilee 2000 Western Cape spokesperson, said the time had arrived for poor countries to begin to raise their voices and organised labour should help to strengthen that voice.

Gwebinkundla Qonde, the Western Cape SACP general secretary said policies formulated and implemented by the IMF and World Bank were causing unbearable damage to economies of developing countries.

________________________________________________

The Mercury 26/9/00

Municipal union to join privatisation protest

September 25 2000 at 08:40PM

By Venilla Yoganathan

Municipal workers will be among scores of activists expected to take to the streets of Durban on Tuesday to protest against privatisation and other "threats of globalisation" as the city's political leaders meet to finalise plans to corporatise the city's transport authority.

The series of national protests are designed to coincide with demonstrations this week by the anti-poverty group, Jubilee 2000, in Prague, where World Bank and International Monetary Fund leaders are meeting.

The 120 000-strong South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu), one of Cosatu's strongest affiliates, will also join forces with health workers and community groups at the anti-privatisation summit in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

In Durban, municipal workers who have threatened to rally against the ANC in the municipal polls if the government continues with its privatisation plans, will march from the city hall at noon.

'They are responsible for the worst atrocities' On Wednesday, Jubilee 2000 will stage a march to the Reserve Bank offices in West Street in support of the Prague demonstrations and call for a cancellation of third-world debt and the reorganisation of financial and labour markets worldwide to assist poor countries.

"These institutions are responsible for some of the worst human atrocities, including privatisation, which puts the very services for basic survival out of the reach of the poor," said Samwu's national spokesperson, Roger Ronnie.

The steady build-up against privatisation, certain to be a major issue in the local government elections later this year, has also caused division within ANC ranks in the Durban metro council, which has adopted in principle to privatise the city's transport authority.

Some within the ANC's ranks, including its alliance partner, the Minority Front (MF), are opposed to privatisation of municipal services, saying it would lead to greater disparities between rich and poor.

"We are not a first world country; we cannot have first-world solutions," said one ANC member.

The MF's Visvin Reddy added that it was not in the interests of the majority of the metro's residents to opt for privatisation.

________________________________________________

SAPA 27/9/00

NGO COALITION TO PICKET IN DURBAN ON ECONOMIC ISSUES

DURBAN September 26 2000 Sapa The SA National Non-governmental Organisation Coalition, which is to picket on socio-economic issues in the Durban city centre on Wednesday, has added its voice to the call for government to treat people infected by HIV/Aids and come clear about the link between the HI virus and Aids.

"We note the growing impact of HIV/Aids on the country and failure by government to provide resources for HIV prevention, treatment and care," Sangoco president Mercia Andrews said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We call for immediate provision of affordable treatment for people living with HIV/Aids; for government to affirm the link between HIV and Aids; measures to reduce mother-to-child transmissions and measures to address the immediate and long-term needs of children orphaned by Aids," Andrews said.

Andrews said that the government's adherence to neo-liberal policies and structural adjustment programmes - as recommended by the World Bank -had increased levels of inequality and poverty.

These policies called for an investor-friendly environment in which the state played a limited role in the economy, she said.

"This has meant cuts in social expenditure, deregulation of labour and financial markets, trade liberalisation, tight monetary policy and the privatisation of state assets.

"Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) have a strong record of not only failing to eradicate poverty, but most importantly of causing poverty themselves."

Many countries had been forced to implement these policies as part of the globalisation of the world economy.

"In the past few years we have witnessed a number of struggles directed against these institutions... as we meet here in Durban, thousands are gathering in Prague from September 26 to make the meeting of the IMF and the World Bank unbearable," said Andrews.

In addition to debt cancellation, restitution and reparations, Jubilee 2000 had also called for an end to SAPs and the closure of the IMF and the World Bank.

"It is to those voices that we are adding to reject the anti-poor policies of fiscal austerity, debt repayment, privatisation, trade liberalisation, labour market flexibility and deregulation of financial markets."

Sangoco was calling for improved social service delivery and an end to cuts in government social spending, which had led to deteriorating living standards.

This included the need to speed up the process of delivering social welfare grants to their intended beneficiaries and increasing child support grants from R100 a child per month to R250.

"The past few years have witnessed a decline in real terms of amounts allocated for old age pensions, children grants and disability grants due to fiscal austerity by the government.

"We call for a developmental approach to social security that views expenditure on these issues as an investment rather than a cost."

Land reform and rural infrastructural development should also be speeded up, Sangcoco said.

Increasing food prices were also putting more pressure on the poor and the coalition called for price controls and exemptions of basic foodstuff from Value Added Tax.

Sangoco said the Job Creation Fund and the Umsobunvu innovation were emergency interventions and should not be substitutes for job-creating macro-economic policies.

"We therefore call for an alternative policy framework that puts the interests of the poor and working people before profit."

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

REMINDER OF ALL THE MAIN JO'BURG EVENTS LEADING UP TO S26

An Open Invitation to Participate in the S26 Week of Action Against the World Bank and IMF Including:

Sat, S23: Anti-privatisation Summit
Sun, S24: World Bank, TNCs, Poor Governance and Corruption
Mon, S25: Soweto Roadshow
Tues, S26: Anti-World Bank and IMF Rally

On September 26, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be starting their meeting in Prague. They will not meet in peace. Hundreds of thousands of people will gather in Prague and in countries across the world to protest their policies.

The September 26 Collective has organised a week of action in Johannesburg, including educational and cultural activities, culminating in a march against the World Bank and IMF on the opening day of their meeting. The activities are being organised to highlight the damage these institutions have caused for working people and the poor in South Africa and throughout the world:

KEEP LEFT
The World Bank, IMF, WTO, poverty and AIDS

This public meeting will explore the links between the World Bank and IMF structural adjustment policies, poverty and HIV/AIDS, as well as that between the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the unaffordable price of HIV/AIDS drugs. It will be addressed by LefaTlhame of the Treatment Action Campaign When: 1.00 pm, Wednesday 20 September Where: ID Macrone Room, 2nd fl, Student Union Building, Wits University

Chris Albertyn, Groundwork, will talk on the Transnational Corporation (TNC) Thor Chemicals and mercury poisoning. He is passing through Johannesburg on his way to Prague to take part in the discussions on

Patrick Bond (pbond@wn.apc.org)
home: 51 Somerset Road, Kensington 2094 South Africa
phone: (2711) 614-8088
work: University of the Witwatersrand
Graduate School of Public and Development Management
PO Box 601, Wits 2050, South Africa
work email: bond.p@pdm.wits.ac.za
work phone: (2711) 717-3917
work fax: (2711) 484-2729
cellphone: (27) 83-633-5548
* Municipal Services Project website — http://www.queensu.ca/msp
* to order new book: Cities of Gold, Townships of Coal — http://store.yahoo.com/africanworld/865436126.html