Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.The statement of intent for the government of national unity commits “to an all-inclusive national dialogue process — with parties, civil society, labour, business and other sectors — to discuss … critical challenges facing the nation”.
For it to be a genuine process shaped by meaningful and substantive public participation and ownership, the process has to address a concern I raised back in 2014 at a conference to mark the 20th anniversary of our democracy. I questioned whether social dialogue and compacting are possible if the majority continue to face dire socio-economic circumstances.
Presumably, the argument would be that there is no need to toyi-toyi when you can have a dialogue with social partners. Even if a weakened trade union movement and poor organised community groups may agree to such a class compromise, it would not be sustainable or legitimate in the eyes of the majority if the structural and systemic foundations of inequality and unemployment are not addressed.
To nail home the main argument: it is best for business and government to think of it as investing in effective public participation. I would make bold to say we need government and business to ensure we have a tradable democracy rand wherein financial and other resources are directed to support self-organisation by poor people, the unemployed and workers without any strings attached.
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Source: SABC News Online - 🏆 32. / 51 Read more »