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On Combating Populism by Lindokuhle Mponco




The society we live in has many problems. These problems are a result of the contradictions that emanate from the development of society and humanity. However, since the dawn of the state we have seen a tendency that has not only captured societies, but this tendency has led to chaos and anarchy that lead society to the bottomless pit of poverty, misery, and inequality. We have seen this tendency rise in our institution due to a political vacuum that normally pops up during the tenure of interim structures. In our institution we have seen tendencies of this nature rise, and in their rise, they have been directed to the SRC.
This is not to say the SRC is an innocent organ that is spotless and holy. I have been accused of portraying the SRC as such; however, those who have accused me of such have failed to produce evidence of such. I want to state it clearly that my views are influenced by my commitment to Marxist-Leninist-Fanonian thought and the Party that adheres to this school of thought, the EFF and its student wing, the EFFSC. My studies of this school of thought have taught me the importance of a dialectical analysis when analyzing issues. This is to ensure that the response to these issues is wholositic in its approach, and rooted in practicality. Hence, the understanding of dialectical materialism is important when analyzing this question of Populism.
Populism has gripped our institution due to a lack of political acumen and content. The populist character of the recent attacks against the SRC displays the lack of political acumen and content. To successfully combat this populist tendency one must adhere to the principle of Amilcar Cabral. Amilcar Cabral teaches us to, "Tell no lies, claim no easy victories, and hide nothing from the masses of our people." This is primarily due to the reality of the socio-political terrain of wins and losses. We must be clear that communication lines of the SRC have not been ideal and straightforward. However, the approach of ensuring that the SRC communicates with absolute clarity on issues has been a display of the lack of political sense and reasoning. I must put it on record that the EFFSC has been the only Organisation that has managed to do this for the benefit of students due to the superior logic that is entailed in its approach to problem solving. Like a true vanguard, it has not said things for the sake of riling up the crowd and getting a reaction. It has articulated its posture in the most dialectical but practical way.
The reality is that we need a mass meeting as soon as possible to address certain issues in the immediate, and simultaneously we need to pave the way for the ISP to convene so that we can close the vacuum that seems to exist. The SRC can only be accountable and functional as an organ of the students if political organisations are clear on the problems, and offer practical solutions grounded in a materialist conception of the issues at hand. This understanding of dialectical materialism and the deliberate effort to inculcate this thought across the political space by the Vanguard of Students' and Community struggles, the EFFSC is the first step we must take to combat populism. The consistent use of dialectical materialism in our analysis and the spread of this tool of analysis is the most definite, but long term method we can use to combat populism.
The second step we must take is immediate but transitionary in character. That step was the guiding method of the Bolsheviks in 1917. Lenin encouraged the Party to 'patiently explain the conditions'. Patient explanation requires one to be meticulous and thorough in his/her understanding of issues. The call to disband the SRC and have elections immediately is the first example of a shortsighted approach to the problem. All revolutionaries will agree that we need to sit elections, but the route needs to be practical and clear. The essence of electing an SRC needs to be protected; however, we must make sure that in our protection of this essence we do not use idealist and populist methods. The method of using the SGC to our advantage through a radical interpretation has proven to work before. An example was the fight for adherence to section 5 of the SGC.
Those involved in that struggle will know that we patiently explained the problem, and ensured we did not open loopholes for the management to deviate from the section. This populist attempt is not only loophole ridden but lacks the practical impetus to convince even the most politically underdeveloped activist. This is primarily due to the lack of logic. This lack of logic displays itself in these shapes and forms. These few activists have displayed this illogical populist slogan for all to see. It is not that the essence of what they are calling for is wrong, but the approach to the call the framing of the demand is wrong and illogical. You cannot fix a house that has not been fundamentally damaged by demolishing the building and starting again without the necessary modalities.
The impracticality of this call is not on the basis of the idea in itself but lies in the framing of the idea. The most logical step is to put pressure on the SRC to call a mass meeting. That is where the energies should be directed to so that students can raise their voice and not be used for attempts to elevate some political charlatans to the upper echelons of student governance. Combating populism by patiently explaining the conditions and the next logical step is the immediate method of combating populism. The Kornilov like character of this wave is the exact reason why all revolutionaries should band against this attempt to unnecessarily unseat the SRC. I am not saying that the SRC must not be removed, but much like Trotsky and Lenin in 1917 we must guard the gains of the revolution by combating this tendency before confronting the regime head on. The reality is that this attempt is distracting us from ensuring that we use all the necessary measures to hold them accountable, while taking the fight to management.
Combating populism in our political space is the first thing we ought to do if we are to advance the student movement towards victory. The collapse of student activism can be located to this desire of 15 minutes of fame, only for charlatans to enter office and become an extension of management. We must combat populism by unmasking the lies and distortions of populists. Unmasking these lies is paramount to the fight of combating populism. Populism is centered around distortions and lies. Twisting facts is the centre of populism, and as such we must unmask lies and expose charlatans so that our movement can be cleansed from staff riders and opportunists. Staff riders and opportunists in their nature are populists and it is important for us to isolate this tendency by providing ideological clarity and superior logic!
All r

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