Download PDFWhere is the unity amongst the workers in the workplace, where is the loyalty and common understanding of who the enemy is, and what happened to the promise of teamwork? How did selfishness creep in between the working class, yes survival is key but does it mean to sacrifice your coworker that shares your struggle in order to get a higher position.?
During the Khanya College study group session on 07 of March 2023 in a discussion of the weaknesses that are proving to be a part of the condition of the working class today, comrades mentioned that the working is not weak. This came after some participants said they thought the class is weak now. In opposition, the working class has now tapped into survival mode. This, they argued, means members of the class look out for themselves only as they have families to feed. They are looking forward to an opportunity for a better life even if it means sacrificing comrades that they struggle with. The days of finding common ground and fighting for what is right as comrades are now gone.
Comrade Nosipho Mdletshe in response said that back then it was easier to fight because comrades were politically conscious, they knew what they were fighting against and what they wanted. Currently, we have the challenge of lacking political education. The working class is generally not politically conscious, and it is difficult for them to fight something that they also don’t know. This was a valid point.
This raises a question, if we don’t know what are we fighting for or if we are not politically conscious what does that say about the new generation birthed from the generation of strong politically conscious fathers? How do we overcome this problem? This is a question directed to the working class and black people at large. How do you fight when you don’t know what you are fighting against? Food for thought about what needs to be done.
This article is an opinion piece submitted on 11 March 2023. The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of Karibu! Online or Khanya College. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
