From Exclusion and Exploitation to Democracy and Development

This piece is focused on mining, but applies to all communities equally and is inspired by the book that has inspired dissidents around the world by Gene Sharp, From Dictatorship to Democracy.

For many years now communities have been struggling to present a formidable opposition to the mining houses and the super exploitation of our natural resources, our land and our communities. Despite the huge profits made by the mining houses (Sales of R371 billion in 2011 and R1.9 TRILLION over the last 10 years.), poverty levels in Polokwane affect as many as 72% of all households. Our struggles have had questionable success in producing real change for communities but have been particularly effective in raising the awareness and consciousness of the communities affected by mining and last year saw arguably the biggest and most representative gathering of communities. This was by any standards a huge step forward and needs to not only be celebrated, but must be turned into a vehicle for real change.


The financial strength of the mining houses provides the industry with an almost untouchable financial might.. Imbuing it with “free will”, to operate and, invest when and how it deems fit. This is no ordinary complex we are dealing with. All stakeholders in mining with the exception of shareholders and management are taking a smaller piece of the pie, including government who received 16% in taxes for 2012 against 18% in 2011 but especially the communities affected by mining. The figures for communities are grim. Poverty levels have increased and unemployment has risen to epidemic levels.


Mining companies are determined to hold onto and increase their exorbitant returns and have proceeded to assert their dominance, even though they are all too keenly aware that they dare not flaunt its god like status, less the people should rise up. Government rests uneasily between a rock and a hard place, wanting to continue its incestuous relations with the Mining Houses while trying to placate the people it is supposed to represent. The government has abandoned its most powerful weapon in the historical battle between the Mining Complex and the s population of South Africa opting instead for deployment of a patriotic bourgeois into the boardrooms of Mining Houses and the accumulation of ownership by individuals such as Cyril Ramaphosa.



During the period pre, and to some extent post, 1994, with communities and workers highly organized and militant, the mining sector had finally met a force that could provide a counter balance, forcing Capital in general but mining in particular to seek an alternative roadmap. They abandoned the National Party, and instead reached an accommodation with the ANC. Capital does not mind who is in Political power, so long as their interests are protected.

The organized unions, have long abandoned any idea of structural economic change in the mining sector, bar of course ownership, participating actively in investment activities, knowing full well that ownership, within its current structural makeup, will not make a difference to the daily lived experiences of the workers and communities affected by mining. NUM last embarked on an industry wide action in 2007, and then only for one day in response to the increasing mining fatalities. The impact of unions in the sector has dwindled with unions primarily focusing on Health and safety and working conditions, and militant unionism has only recently reared its head again with the wildcat strikes led by strike committees.



The mobilization of communities and other organized forces such as labour has always been our most potent weapon, and one which has a long history within the South African context. It is this weapon that must form the backbone of our struggle to free our people from poverty and exploitation. Taking lessons from the South African struggle, but also relying on struggles across the world that has seen the people face up to the dictators and oppressors I would like to propose the following:

1. Populations are Fragmented

All oppressive regimes in history have always sort to fragment and divide their populations, that is to say, they have propagated an individualistic approach which isolates person from person and community from community. This makes it easier to control the population and to impose its own agenda. Even though individuals and single communities may take on heroic struggles with the mining houses and government, "isolated action, no matter how noble, is impotent."

2. Some believe that the oppressed cannot liberate themselves.

Some would argue that for many reasons, such as ideological differences, ignorance, selfish greed, opportunists and a myriad of other reasons, people living in poverty are not able to act in their own interests and can only be saved by the actions of others. Therefore you will hear solutions being proposed such as we must change public opinion, appeal to the United Nations, Appeal to the Shareholders etc. this is not to say that these are tactical alternatives, but they cannot be our strategic starting point. Our starting point must be that the poor have AGENCY. Our starting point must be that the poor are willing and able to take up the fight around the issues that affect them.

"Oppressors the world over have always existed because of the Internal Power Distribution. That is to say, they exist because they do not face a determined and committed people who are willing to assert their power within society."

So what then is our task?



1. We must strengthen people living in poverty and the oppressed people themselves. We must strengthen their determination, self confidence and resistance skills.

2. We must strengthen independent social groups and institutions of people living in poverty and the oppressed.

3. We must create a powerful internal movement of resistance.

4. We must develop a wise grand Strategy Plan, and implement it skillfully.

To quote Charles Stewart Parnell (leader of the Irish rent strike 1879-1880)

“It is no use relying on the Government…You must only rely upon your own determination….Help yourself by standing together…Strengthen those among yourself who are weak…Band yourself together, organize yourself….and you MUST WIN….when you have made this question ripe for settlement, then and not till then, will it be settled.”