Stinging invective about strikes and the economy

Published Jul 11, 2014

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IT IS not often that newspapers admit to knowingly publishing tedious claptrap, so mark this down as one of those rare moments for Business Report. Turn to page 18 of today’s edition and thoughtfully examine the arguments of Moses Mayekiso, the Workers and Socialist Party (Wasp) president and former National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary, who answers the economic “experts” and says that the strikes are not hurting the economy.

His argument is run in full, just as Business Report has previously run articles by Julius Malema, Bishop Jo Seoka, economists of all stripes, and others from across the spectrum of politics, allowing them the space to be heard and allowing our readers to make up their own minds.

Usually this is done without comment, but Mayekiso and Wasp, the party that scored pretty much zero support from voters in the recent elections, have taken the ranting of empty vessels to a new low with their latest outpouring of left-wing dogma.

There is much to be questioned in Mayekiso’s claim that “the bosses, the capitalist politicians of the ANC and the DA” are all in league, denouncing the patently political strike by Numsa, which is laying violent siege to the manufacturing sector, accounting for 15 percent of the economy.

In addition to the superficial, analysis are the outright lies.

In his column, Mayekiso claims that the media is a spokesperson for capitalism and “to soften people up to hear these lies the strike is portrayed in the media as ‘violent’”.

Sorry, but the damage to the economy caused by the platinum strike is a matter of numerical fact, widely reported even by the government’s statistics division.

The strikers’ violence with impunity is far from imagined. Witness photos of armed strikers, burning dogs, workers and business people assaulted and smashed business and arrests.

Make a point of reading Mayekiso’s analysis.

Make up your own mind and let us know what you think.

Telecoms

There is growing concern over the increased cyber-security risk that African countries face as technology rapidly develops.

The African Telecommunications Union, with its member countries, have gathered for a conference in Harare, Zimbabwe, saying that collaborative efforts to address this should be taken.

The low base that most African countries’ telecoms sectors are springing off has provided immense opportunities for businesses.

But these opportunities have also disrupted telecoms firms, according to executives at cellphone network operators.

Over-the-top and cheaper communication alternatives, such as instant messaging applications and social media outlets, have been blamed for declining average revenue per users income for most African telecoms companies.

But apart from this, there is growing concern over the cyber-security risk that such advancements have occasioned.

Zimbabwe’s vice-president Joice Mujuru, at the conference said that African countries needed to up their preparedness to deal with cyber-security risks.

Delegates said the International Telecommunications Union should also recognise the complex needs of African countries, such as increased cyber security and the need to revamp telecommunications infrastructure.

Mujuru told delegates that growth in the information and communications sector in Africa “must be harnessed to develop the socio-economic sectors” of the continent, as well as improve the “wellbeing” of citizens. “There is a correlation between broadband and economic development.”

Edited by Peter DeIonno. With contributions from Peter DeIonno and Tawanda Karombo.

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