South Africa's response to this issue must begin by outlining how we see the present political situation. This is because our decision to join the UDF was made as part of our response to certain political events. These events directly affected us both as a trade union, and as people who identify ourselves with the struggle for a free and just South Africa.
There are four main political issues that effect workers today. These four The increasing push towards bantustan independence for all the homelands therefore the forcing of bantustan citizenship on all black peoLE USI workers.
The on this month. d.
are linked.
Bantustan independence All black workers are faced with the fact that they and their children are being forced become citizens of one or other homeland. homelands become independent - the situation of the workers from that homeland detenorates but as foreigners coming into South Africa to get a job.
The new pass laws The pass laws have always been the way in which the government o South Africa has made it easy for the bosses to exploit black workers. These are the laws which make it possible for the governwonders got are not need ment to get of ed in the urban areas.
The Community Council Elections The community councils another attempt confuse people about who the enemy is. This is done putting stooges into power in the community councils and then oppressing the people through The new Coloured people "included', a step in.
from the black we can see If are no black South (only Vendas etc whites These also of apartheid DalL system oppresses other classes other communities.
Colblack the black working the struggle not oppressed people. must stand people • unity of of CYCL of be done the capitalist Trade Unions and Our on these but how can oppose them ability the with possibility stopping immediate facing in the workplace.
Because structures workers discuss discussed. it is tively as ine first line of Alliances Africa, the imain organisa We are T0119 faced ways of organisablem.
The present politica situation demands a far greater and more united response than we have managed for a very long time By ourselves whether community organisations, - YO will achieve very little.
•rODICI then becomes how to bring al different types organisations Herein lies the strength of un organisation like the In the real sense of the work - the UDF is not an organisation at all. It's a Focuss or a range of die- point. It's focus ferent types of energies. represents the pooling of resources;
of a range of very different, autonomous organisations.
It is in all these ways that the UDF is a United Front of a broad range of
Socialist Action 4 October 1985 apartheid