This was written in support of protests around privatisation at the University of the Witwatersrand in October 2007, in which I was involved, gave several speeches and faced some consequences . This version is from http://www.anarkismo.net/article/7706. A version was also published by Le Combat Syndicaliste (CNT-Vignolles), a copy of which I only located many years, … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2007, “Afrique du Sud: Résister à l’université bourgeoise” [Anarkismo]
Author: Lucien van der Walt
I teach at Rhodes University, the Eastern Cape. I’m 10th generation South African, born and bred. I have long been involved in union and working class education, and have a background in social movement and left-wing activism, the Workers’ Library and Museum, the Anti-Privatisation Forum, and the National Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU).
I’ve presented or published 450+ papers, including conferences and workshops, co-edited 4 journal specials (on global and African labour history, and the left), and produced five books. Southern Africa editor for the 2009 'International Encyclopaedia of Revolution and Protest' (Blackwell). I won the 2008 international ‘Labor History’ PhD thesis prize, and the 2008/2009 Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) award for best African dissertation, for my thesis on South African anarchism, syndicalism and black militants. I have also done research in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
[DISCUSSION]: Lucien van der Walt, revised 1999 paper, ” The Soviet Mirage”
Revised version of paper prepared by Lucien van der Walt for Lesedi Socialist Study Group, Wits University, 8 October 1999 The “Russian question” – the debate on the nature of the Soviet Union – goes straight to the heart of the challenges facing socialists on the eve of the twenty-first century. The “Russian question” raises … Continue reading [DISCUSSION]: Lucien van der Walt, revised 1999 paper, ” The Soviet Mirage”
[SPEECH]: Lucien van der Walt, 1997, “Rosa Luxemburg’s Legacy: Libertarian, revolutionary, socialist,” First International Workers Film Festival (Johannesburg)
Rosa Luxemburg’s legacy Lucien van der Walt Discussion for First International Workers Film Festival, Ster-Moribo, Johannesburg, 19 September 1997 Comrades, that was a very interesting film. Not just because of what it teaches us about the history of the revolutionary workers movement, and the struggle for socialism and freedom. But also, because it helps us … Continue reading [SPEECH]: Lucien van der Walt, 1997, “Rosa Luxemburg’s Legacy: Libertarian, revolutionary, socialist,” First International Workers Film Festival (Johannesburg)
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2009, “The South African Elections, Neo-Liberalism and Working Class Strategy”
Previously published at anarkismo.net, 23 April 2009 The renewed Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) support for the ruling nationalist African National Congress (ANC) has seen the unions dedicate organisers over the last few weeks to ensuring an “overwhelming” ANC victory in the national elections on the 22 April 2009. How valid is such … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2009, “The South African Elections, Neo-Liberalism and Working Class Strategy”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2008, “The 2010 World Cup, the Neo-liberal Agenda and the Class Struggle in South Africa”
Lucien van der Walt, 2008, "The 2010 World Cup, the Neo-liberal Agenda and the Class Struggle in South Africa" Zabalaza: A Journal of Southern African Revolutionary Anarchism, number 8, pp. 8-9. Get the PDF here The 2010 World Cup is part and parcel of the neo-liberal restructuring of SA capitalism. It is also, however, a major … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2008, “The 2010 World Cup, the Neo-liberal Agenda and the Class Struggle in South Africa”
[ARTICLE]: Lucien van der Walt, 2008, “ASGISA: a working class critique”
Previous published in Zabalaza: a journal of southern African revolutionary anarchism #8, February 2008 Get the PDF here The announcement of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative – South Africa (Asgisa) in 2006 has been met with some enthusiasm in left and labour circles. There is, however, very little to be excited about. The SA … Continue reading [ARTICLE]: Lucien van der Walt, 2008, “ASGISA: a working class critique”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2005, “BEE-llionnaires in Mbeki-stan: BEE debate shows nature of post-apartheid SA, and limits of ‘left’ critique”
Lucien van der Walt, 2005, "BEE-llionnaires in Mbeki-stan: BEE debate shows nature of post- apartheid SA, and limits of 'left' critique," Zabalaza: a journal of southern African revolutionary anarchism, number 7. Get the PDF here Recent debates in the press around the issue of “Black Economic Empowerment,” or BEE, bring key features of the post-apartheid … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2005, “BEE-llionnaires in Mbeki-stan: BEE debate shows nature of post-apartheid SA, and limits of ‘left’ critique”
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2005, “Rethinking welfare, building the working class movement”
Presented at the NALEDI OPEN FORUM, 10th -11th November 2005 Venue : Parktonian Hotel, Cnr. Rissik and De Korte Street, Braamfontein Social Policy and Development section PDF available here [FIXED BROKEN LINK]. Rejecting technocratic modes of policy intervention by labour's experts, this paper argues for a model of “policy-from-below”, based in mass campaigns that … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2005, “Rethinking welfare, building the working class movement”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2004, “The Political Significance of NEPAD: a homegrown recipe for neo-liberalism”
Lucien van der Walt, 2004, “The Political Significance of NEPAD”, Zabalaza: a southern African journal of revolutionary anarchism, number 5. Get the Zabalaza PDF here Reprinted as Lucien van der Walt, 2003/2004, "NEPAD: New Partnership for Africa's Exploitation" in Anarcho-syndicalist Review, #38. Get the ASR PDF here The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), adopted … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2004, “The Political Significance of NEPAD: a homegrown recipe for neo-liberalism”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, David Mokoena& Sakhile Shange, 2001, “Cleaned Out: outsourcing at Wits University”
Previously published in the South African Labour Bulletin, volume 25, number 4, August 2001 PDF is online here Lucien van der Walt, David Mokoena and Sakhile Shange consider the consequences of the retrenchments at Wits University, South Africa, in 2000 and their link to neo-liberal anti-working class restructuring On 2 July 2001, Norma Reid … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, David Mokoena& Sakhile Shange, 2001, “Cleaned Out: outsourcing at Wits University”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Revolutionary Anarchism and the Anti-Globalization Movement”
Previously published in Red and Black Revolution: a magazine of libertarian communism, number 5, 2001 Original PDF is online here In the wake of the Seattle riots of 1999, Lucien van der Walt explains how he thinks anarchists should relate to the burgeoning anti-globalisation movement. Riot police battling youth. Armed forces locking down … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Revolutionary Anarchism and the Anti-Globalization Movement”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “The Neo-Liberal Agenda: GEAR versus the working class”
Previously published in Zabalaza: a journal of southern African revolutionary anarchism, #1, April 2001 PDF is online here Underlying the government's drive to privatise is the neo-liberal GEAR programme. This is a macro-economic policy adopted by the government in mid-1996. GEAR argues that the capitalist class is the engine of reconstruction and development in South … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “The Neo-Liberal Agenda: GEAR versus the working class”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “Neo-liberalism has come to the University of the Witwatersrand through retrenchments, commercialisation, and privatisation”
Previously published in Umsebsenzi, May 2000Neo-liberalism has come to the University of the Witwatersrand through retrenchments, commercialisation, and privatisation.Hundreds of workers at the University will lose their jobs after management decided on 25 February 2000 to retrench more than 623 employees in building care, catering, cleaning, grounds, maintenance, and transport.Sub-contracting companies will take their jobs … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “Neo-liberalism has come to the University of the Witwatersrand through retrenchments, commercialisation, and privatisation”
[ANALYSIS]: Sam Kariuki& Lucien van der Walt, “Land Reform in South Africa: still waiting”
Previously published in Southern Africa Report, volume 15, number 3, May 2000, pp. 19-22 Original PDF online here The land reform process in South Africa underlines how patterns of class, gender, and racial inequality have been reproduced in the `new South Africa.' The achievement of a non-racial parliament was an enormous advance for ordinary people. … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Sam Kariuki& Lucien van der Walt, “Land Reform in South Africa: still waiting”
Lucien van der Walt 