WASP: South African elections announced

South African president and ANC leader Jacob Zuma has announced the country’s 2014 general elections will take place on 7 May.

The Workers and Socialist Party (WASP) has been campaigning in Tshwane (which includes capital city Pretoria) to get students, workers, street traders, youth and other community members to register to vote in the elections.

WASP campaigners have also been building community support for the student strike against financial exclusions, which is currently in motion at the Tshwane University of Technology among other campuses across the country, as well as for the mineworkers’ strike for a living wage of R12,500.

A petition has been circulated calling for the resignation of President Zuma following the police massacre at Marikana, further police killings in Mothutlung, Roodeport, and now Relela village in Limpopo, as well as his government’s failure to fulfil any of its promises to the poor and to workers.

WASP, which was born out of the South African mineworkers’ struggles, is appealing for international financial support from trade union branches, campaigning groups and individuals for its election campaign.

Please make cheques payable to “South African Miners Fund” and post to South African Miners’ Solidarity, PO Box 66682, London E11 9ER