Popular talk: Lucien van der Walt, 2017, “The Political Economy of the Rhodes Industrial Action,” seminar on “Students and the Strike,” Asinimali, Rhodes University, 28 April. This talk was part of a panel arranged by the 'Asinimali' student group at Rhodes University, South Africa, as an unprecedented strike by staff took place at the institution. The … Continue reading [TALK] Lucien van der Walt, 2017, “The Political Economy of the Rhodes Industrial Action,” seminar on “Students and the Strike,” Asinimali, Rhodes University, 28 April.
Category: Neo-liberalism & privatisation
Examining neo-liberal state/ capitalist restructuring, its aims, effects and popular class struggles that fight back
[PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on incoming “neo-liberal” Wits VC [2001]
Daisy Jones, 2001, "Reid Aims for Respected, Transformed Wits," Business Day, 14 June Get the PDF here
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 1998, “Low Wages will not Create Jobs, Struggle will”
Lucien van der Walt, 1998, "Low Wages Will Not Create Jobs , Struggle Will," Workers Solidarity meeting, Workers Library and Museum, Newtown, Johannesburg, 15 August The bosses and the government say that low wages will lead to more jobs. This is in the GEAR (government) and the SA Foundation (big business) policies. Both government and … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 1998, “Low Wages will not Create Jobs, Struggle will”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Racism, Neo-Liberalism and Class Struggle in South Africa”
Lucien van der Walt, 2001, "Racism, Neo-Liberalism and Class Struggle in South Africa" Bikisha Media Collective, South Africa Article for Comunismo Libertario (Italy): published as Lucien van der Walt, June 2001, "Razzismo, neoliberismo e lotta di classe in Sudafrica," Comunismo Libertario, no. 51, p. 8 (part 1) and November-December 2001, "Razzismo, neoliberismo e Iotta di classe … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Racism, Neo-Liberalism and Class Struggle in South Africa”
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2007, “South Africa: Will the workers and the poor benefit from the 2010 World Cup?” Red and Black Forum
Lucien van der Walt, 2007, "South Africa: Will the workers and the poor benefit from the 2010 World Cup?" Red and Black Forum, Khanya College, 5 May. Comrades. As you know, South Africa’s success in winning the 2010 bid for the World Cup has been announced with great fanfare. The World Soccer Cup is the … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2007, “South Africa: Will the workers and the poor benefit from the 2010 World Cup?” Red and Black Forum
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2002, “The Outsourcing of Support Services in Higher Education,” SWOP ‘Brown Bag’ seminar
Lucien van der Walt, 2002, "The Outsourcing of Support Services in Higher Education," SWOP "Brown Bag" seminar, University of Witwatersrand, 9 May, SH2187. The debates over university restructuring - of “transformation” - have been complex, and very heated. But in some ways, though, these debates have generated far more heat than light. Issues such as the … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2002, “The Outsourcing of Support Services in Higher Education,” SWOP ‘Brown Bag’ seminar
[PRESS]: “Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now” [2015]
Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now 22 October 2015, Mail and Guardian, here A collective statement from academics at South African institutions of higher education. As academics in South African institutions of higher education, we stand with students in their fight for the democratisation of our universities. The current student protests that have … Continue reading [PRESS]: “Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now” [2015]
[PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on university outsourcing [2002]
The outsourced university 14 June 2002, Mail and Guardian, here David Macfarlane Low-wage workers have been prime victims of transformation in South African higher education, and unions at universities have been eroded in the process. While institutional power relations that disadvantage workers have placed much of the burden of restructuring on them, the main blame … Continue reading [PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on university outsourcing [2002]
[ANALYSIS] Byrne, Chinguwo, McGregor, & van der Walt, 2018,”Why May Day Matters to Malawi: History with anarchist roots”
Sian Byrne, Paliani Chinguwo, Warren McGregor, and Lucien van der Walt, 30 April 2018,"Why May Day matters to Malawi: History with anarchist roots," As it Happens News (Malawi), online at http://www.aihnews.com/why-may-day-matters-to-malawi/ troduction When we celebrate May Day we rarely reflect on why it is a public holiday in Malawi or elsewhere. Sian Byrne, Paliani … Continue reading [ANALYSIS] Byrne, Chinguwo, McGregor, & van der Walt, 2018,”Why May Day Matters to Malawi: History with anarchist roots”
[ANALYSIS] Maisiri & van der Walt, 2018, “Alternatives to Capitalism Part 3: Resist-Occupy-Produce: Lessons from Factory Take-Overs and Worker Cooperatives in Argentina” (Workers World News)
Leroy Maisiri and Lucien van der Walt, 2018, "Alternatives to Capitalism Part 3: Resist-Occupy-Produce: Lessons from Factory Take-Overs and Worker Cooperatives in Argentina," Workers World News (ILRIG), number 110, August-September, pp. 8-9. Get the PDF of print version here In Argentina economic crisis saw a collapse in working class conditions. High unemployment, low wages, attacks … Continue reading [ANALYSIS] Maisiri & van der Walt, 2018, “Alternatives to Capitalism Part 3: Resist-Occupy-Produce: Lessons from Factory Take-Overs and Worker Cooperatives in Argentina” (Workers World News)
[ANALYSIS] van der Walt, 2018, “From Union Renewal to a Self-Managed Society: Towards an Anarcho-Syndicalist Project” (South African Labour Bulletin)
Lucien van der Walt 2018, “From Union Renewal to a Self-Managed Society: Towards an Anarcho-Syndicalist Project,” 'South African Labour Bulletin,' 42 (1): 27-30. Get the PDF of print version here **In this article, Lucien van der Walt argues that trade union renewal is essential but should not be reduced to democratising structures or new recruitment … Continue reading [ANALYSIS] van der Walt, 2018, “From Union Renewal to a Self-Managed Society: Towards an Anarcho-Syndicalist Project” (South African Labour Bulletin)
[PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt argues that rightist claims of “white genocide” in SA are”a lie”
From The Citizen, here White genocide is ‘a lie’, ‘threat simply doesn’t exist’ 16 March 2018, by Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni Minority rights group AfriForum’s Ian Cameron cautions against the use of the term ‘white genocide’ as it can deligitimise a just cause. The notion of “white genocide” is a lie, white South African farmers are not … Continue reading [PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt argues that rightist claims of “white genocide” in SA are”a lie”
[PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on the fight against new labour laws (South Africa)
The Citizen, here New labour legislation to ‘hurt workers, split unions’ 2 May 2018, by Simnikiwe Hlatshanen Unions with the ANC see the new laws as a victory but Saftu is resisting those laws and it will lead to further splits, an analyst says. South African workers will be weaker under the expected changes to … Continue reading [PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on the fight against new labour laws (South Africa)
[PRESS]: “1917-2017: The Russian Revolution and its Relevance Today”
http://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/1917-2017therussianrevolutionanditsrelevancetoday.html Rhodes > Latest News 1917-2017: The Russian Revolution and its Relevance Today Date Released: Mon, 23 October 2017 10:43 +0200 By Thandi Bombi Veteran activist Oupa Lehulere and Rhodes University’s Lucien van der Walt presented a truly revolutionary lecture during the 2017 Labour Studies Seminar Series recently. Lehulere called his paper 1917-2017 The Russian … Continue reading [PRESS]: “1917-2017: The Russian Revolution and its Relevance Today”
[RADIO]: “Who Owns South Africa? Beyond White Monopoly Capital” (Lucien van der Walt)
Interview on Power FM's "Power Talk" show, 10 pm, 12 July 2017, with Iman Rapetti on "Who Owns South Africa?" We have heard the term ‘White Monopoly Capital’ in recent times, we would like to break down where the wealth is actually concentrated in South Africa. What is the role of the state elite? How … Continue reading [RADIO]: “Who Owns South Africa? Beyond White Monopoly Capital” (Lucien van der Walt)
Lucien van der Walt 