The Workers and Socialist Party’s (Wasp) foray into formal politics has generated a moderate degree of excitement in some circles. The ANC changed its tune when socialism fell apart in the former Soviet Union and other parts of the world. In the 1990s it started embracing capitalism.
I eventually found a home in Wasp with a new title as a newly elected Gauteng Provincial co-ordinate. Wasp has conducted its own survey in and around Mogale City and the West Rand as a whole. Palmira Thupane, a domestic worker from Kenmare says that I have become a part of the community through my work in the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco). I always have been there for the community and have sorted out many problems for them, hence Thupane now supporting me to move.
Kasi Dlamini from Munsieville says, “I am excited that Master Push has moved on in politics and he managed to lure founding member of Cosatu, 65-year-old Moses Jongisizwe Mayekiso from Alexandra into the party’s fold to boost Wasp’s prospects of snatching the disillusioned or disgruntled former ANC voters in the 7 May election”.
He says Mayekiso was a leading trade union activist for the Metal and Allied Workers Union (Mawu) in the 1970s and 1980s. Mawu, along with other unions found Cosatu in 1985 and he was key to founding Numsa. Mayekiso was general secretary for both unions.
He was an ANC MP from 1994 to 1996 but resigned to focus on the crucial grassroots work of building Sanco in the aftermath of the fall of apartheid and the urgent task of rebuilding communities before he left to join Cope, where he served in the Gauteng Legislature.
