ORGANISE OR STARVE! HOPE THROUGH UNITY AND ACTION!

The July unrest left us with no illusions: South Africa stands at a crossroads. Mass unemployment and the plundering of the state threaten to cast us into anarchy and authoritarianism. As social movements, organized under the Cry of Xcluded, we are offering a different vision. In local government elections scheduled for November 1, we are running on a platform to democratise our municipalities, roll back austerity and build a mass movement of the working class.

Our movements have fought for years to root out corruption and bring decent services to our communities. We promise to bring the democratic traditions learned in these struggles into our campaigns. We will elect leaders who are committed to transparency and accountable to a base of activists. But we realise that change cannot be won at the local level alone. We see our campaigns as an opportunity to build towards a strong national movement that unifies community and workplace struggles.

As the ANC rapidly loses its grip on power, the crisis we face also presents a real opening. Your donation will help us to buy materials, data and transport so that we can put committed socialist organisers into office.

Running in these local government elections are the Unemployed People’s Movement/Makana Citizen's Front (Makana Local Municipality, Eastern Cape), the Botshabelo Unemployed Movement (Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Free State), and the Active United Front (Bitou Local Municipality, Western Cape).

The Cry of the Xcluded was launched by the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the Assembly of the Unemployed (AoU) on 12 February 2020 to unite the working class – employed and unemployed – in the struggle for jobs, services, and dignity. Key supporting organisations currently include Abahlali BaseMjondolo, the Amadiba Crisis Committee, South African Green Revolutionary Council, Inyanda and Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA).