OKM Socialist Election Campaign

MANIFESTO of the OKM

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OKM MANIFESTO
VOTE FOR SOCIALIST CANDIDATES
IN THE 2011 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

The South African local government elections to be held on May 18th, 2011, come at a very difficult time for the ruling classes of the world. Their global economic system is in crisis. The 30-year dominance of neoliberal ideology is over. The international anti-capitalist movement mobilised millions across the globe against important aspects of the capitalist system. There are revolutions in the oil-producing Middle East countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain, etc. The capitalist system is in crisis.

South Africa is torn apart by community protests, militant strikes and in-fighting inside the ruling party. Many people are losing confidence in the ANC. The DA, a capitalist party with policies worse than the ANC, is buying support in working class townships. Many people are finding themselves without a reason for voting. Some social movements are campaigning for a boycott of the elections.

The Operation Khanyisa Movement (OKM) is an electoral front formed by Johannesburg community-based movements affiliated to the Anti-Privatisation Forum. In addition to organising marches, demonstrations and other forms of mass action, the organizations decided that it is important to fight both outside and inside the Johannesburg Council Chamber. In 2006 they ran candidates in the local elections and managed to win one seat.

The OKM councilor is the only one in the City of Johannesburg who pushes a socialist, pro-working class agenda. She is the only one who attends council meetings armed with a mandate from the community she represents. She is the only councilor who gives more than half of her salary to the organization in order for the money to be used to build the struggle. She is the only councilor subject to the right of recall, that is, she has signed a pledge stating that she can be removed anytime from office if she does not satisfy those who elected her. All this proves that a different kind of public representative is possible. The OKM needs your vote so that we can have more councilors like the OKM councilor.

Vote Operation Khanyisa Movement in the May 18th 2011 elections
VOTE OKM

PLATFORM OF THE OPERATION KHANYISA MOVEMENT

The OKM is fighting democratic control of local government. The OKM wants:
• A workers’ government that is run by and controlled by ordinary working class people.
• Accountable councilors who operate according to the mandate of those who elected them.
• The right to recall government representatives and officials who fail in their duties.

The OKM is fighting for the provision of adequate services to all people, rich or poor. The OKM calls for:
• An end to privatization, public-private partnerships and profit-making in providing services.
• Free services for all. This includes water, electricity, sanitation, health care, education, housing.
• Stop criminalisation of communities who connect themselves “illegally” to water and electricity.

The OKM fights for the satisfaction of all the needs of the working class and the poor. The OKM says:
• Government must have public works to create decent, permanent jobs at a living wage for all.
• Government must build decent houses for all without involving the capitalists and profits.
• Government must develop an integrated public transport system that prioritises workers’ needs.

The OKM fights against capitalist pollution and destruction of the environment. The OKM believes that:
• We must keep the oil in the soil, and the coal in the hole. Stop getting energy from fossil fuels.
• Government must invest in the development of renewable energy. No to nuclear power.
• Big business must pay more for electricity in order to force it to reduce consumption.

The OKM fights and supports all struggles of the working class and all oppressed. The OKM says:
• Unions, civics, social movements & other working class formations must unite in struggle.
• Loyalty to the ANC or the Alliance must come second to the unity of the working class.
• The best solution for the working class is to get rid of capitalism and replace it with socialism.

The OKM believes in the equal treatment of everyone with respect and dignity no matter their race, gender, age, belief, culture, sexual orientation or country of origin. OKM says no to xenophobia.

The OKM believes the root causes of poverty and inequality in society arise out of the capitalist control of the economy. The OKM calls for the nationalization without compensation of banks, mines, factories, big corporations and farms under workers control. ESKOM, TRANSNET and other parastatals must be re-nationalised. The wealth of the country must be used to provide food for the hungry, homes for the homeless, services for all, and to eradicate all forms of oppression and exploitation in society.

JOIN THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIALISM
VOTE OKM IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

For more information please call OKM offices at 011-938 4305. Thembelihle Crisis Committee and the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee are the OKM member organizations. The OKM is an associate member of the Democratic Left Front and the Anti-Privatisation Forum.

OKM Socialist Election Campaign

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Wednesday 13 April 2011

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OKM members on the march