Professor David Anderson on political implications of South African miner massacre

Professor David Anderson contributed to a debate (28 August) on the political implications of the Marikana Massacre and the mine industry strikes in South Africa, broadcast on China Radio International.

If you look back over the last two years, really, theres been a growing upsurge of labour disputes in South Africa, David said. There were several problems prior to the soccer World Cup being held in South Africa. There have been problems since then with health service workers, and with others in the public sector. These have focused around wage demands, but theyre really also about social and welfare conditions that South African workers have to tolerate.

To put it in a nutshell, the African National Congress (the goverment of South Africa) is now viewed as being too slow and too complacent in its response to the economic needs of poor workers.

You can listen to the debate here (c. 5:45 on clock).