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Cape Town- The bane of spin is with us again with a vengeance, says Terry Bell in his latest Labour Wrap. He thinks this is understandable, given the events of recent weeks - and not only on the labour front.
He also thinks we should expect another bout of spin, of distorted and self-serving claims posing as fact following the anti-xenophobia march in Johannesburg on Thursday. Such a march should be supported by all trade unions, whoever initiated the protest. However, when the march was announced, it was also said that sacked Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi would be at the forefront.
Bell maintains that in some quarters, Vavi’s action will be derided as opportunistic and provocative, in others as an example of a union leader acting out of principle. From both these points of view, spin will flow.
Bell adds that no matter what Vavi’s motivation, his action is a tactical masterstroke. How, for example, can any union not support a march against xenophobia? But at the same time, in doing so, how can those opposed to Vavi not be seen to give him any support?
As a result, says Bell, there will almost certainly be a welter of claims and disinformation, the essence of “spin”. And he notes that there has been a lot of it about, a classic case being the claim that Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini was encouraging a fight against poverty when he said foreigners should pack up their belongings and “go”.
Bell adds that he has also been the target of spin by a master of the genre, Mac Maharaj. This concerns Bell having noted that the formation of Cosatu was “initially opposed by the ANC and SACP”; that this seems to imply the latest tensions in Cosatu are some new aberration when clearly they are not.
Bell feels this reaction by Maharaj may have something to do with concern about possible fragmentation of the ANC-led alliance only a year before the 2016 local government elections.
What is your take on the recent xenophobic attacks that shocked our fragile nation? Add your voice to the big labour debate or simply ask Terry a labour question.
* Terry Bell is a political, economic and labour analyst. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.
- Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.
