South African privatisation: Mandelson muddies waters

Last month LLB reported on water privatisation in South Africa (South Africa: the struggle against privatisation). Here Anna Weekes, media officer of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), reports (in a personal capacity) that it will need superhuman effort to stop water transnationals from getting a foot in South Africa's door.

The British Labour Government has now become involved in the latest South African privatisation. As the ANC-led administration launched new attacks on organised labour over the sell-offs, British minister Peter Mandelson visited South Africa. The Trade and Industry Minister's stay was just weeks before a water privatisation contract with a British transnational is set to be sealed. The firm, Biwater, planned to finalise a contract to run the municipality of Nelspruit's water on 1st November. Mandelson insisted that he had not come to "sell privatisation to South Africa". Yet it was alleged that one of the main aims of his visit was to see why the contract to privatise the water had not yet been finalised and to push for its immediate conclusion.

The visit came as the ANC government stepped up its assault on those fighting privatisation. The union SAMWU has faced its most vicious attack yet by South African Minister of Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs Valli Moosa. The minister accused the union's campaign against privatisation as being based on "ultra-leftist" ideological leanings and of blocking transformation and service delivery, views echoed by the South African press.

However, SAMWU's General Secretary Roger Ronnie slammed the charge. "The accusation reminds one of the kind that flew around during apartheid - of a red under every bed." Yet the minister's claim is also the clarion call of the conservative town clerk of Nelspruit Roelf Kotze, who accuses the union of jeopardising services on a regular basis. It is deeply ironic that Roelf Kotze accuses the federation of jeopardising services when, three years after local government elections, he has made no effort whatsoever to restructure existing human or material resources to deliver an equitable service.

The strong arm tactics being employed in this privatisation battle are familiar to SAMWU. In November 1997, Biwater used the threat of economic sanctions against a critical programme which was broadcast on South African TV reporting criticisms of its track record as a water company.

Biwater threatened to withhold a R200million (about £920 million) investment, putting several thousand South Africans' jobs at risk, unless the television station involved issued an apology and corrections. This led to an immediate retraction. By no small coincidence, Biwater is now suing the highly respected Mail and Guardian newspaper over a critical story.

Meanwhile, opposition from below continues unabated. At the Alexandra Civic Organisation Workshop, held at Chamdor House on 11th October, it was agreed to maintain opposition to privatisation and to campaign to extend water rights to all. A campaign has been launched to force the local authority to initiate a programme to fix leaking pipes and taps and to call for a "lifeline" of 50 litres of water per person per day for free, but for increased tariffs for any excess water used.

A recent provincial congress of SAMWU endorsed the continuation of the campaign against privatisation - despite the heavy odds stacked against the union. Dramatically, but without the sense that this was any laughing matter, one delegate proclaimed that "We are prepared to die for this campaign against privatisation."

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