Marxist Workers Tendency of the ANC
Encyclopedia
The Marxist Workers Tendency of the ANC or MWT was a Trotskyist group within the African National Congress
which was eventually expelled from the party.
and others were expelled from the ANC in 1979 The Marxist Workers’ Tendency was affiliated to the Committee for a Workers International, an international organization of Trotskyist parties and the newspaper, The Militant. Legassick was again expelled from the ANC in 1985.
and the South African Communist Party
, often described as a Stalinist party, have been highly critical of the MWT.
being a founder of the Treatment Action Campaign
and Martin Legassick working closely with the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
, Abahlali baseMjondolo
(Cape Town branch) and being a founder of the Democratic Left Front
.
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
which was eventually expelled from the party.
History
The MWT was launched after Martin LegassickMartin Legassick
Martin Legassick is an eminent and world renowned South African historian and a lifelong activist.Legassick was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1940. In 1947 he and his parents emigrated to South Africa. In 1960 he became a Rhodes Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford...
and others were expelled from the ANC in 1979 The Marxist Workers’ Tendency was affiliated to the Committee for a Workers International, an international organization of Trotskyist parties and the newspaper, The Militant. Legassick was again expelled from the ANC in 1985.
Reception
Both the African National CongressAfrican National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
and the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
, often described as a Stalinist party, have been highly critical of the MWT.
Legacy
MWT comrades have been involved in the most significant social movements in post-apartheid South Africa with Zackie AchmatZackie Achmat
Zackie Achmat is a South African activist, most widely known as founder and chairman of the Treatment Action Campaign and for his work on the behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa.-Early life:...
being a founder of the Treatment Action Campaign
Treatment Action Campaign
The Treatment Action Campaign is a South African AIDS activist organization which was founded by the HIV-positive activist Zackie Achmat in 1998. TAC is rooted in the experiences, direct action tactics and anti-apartheid background of its founder...
and Martin Legassick working closely with the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign is a non-racial popular movement made up of poor and oppressed communities in Cape Town, South Africa...
, Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
(Cape Town branch) and being a founder of the Democratic Left Front
Democratic Left Front
The Democratic Left Front was formed as a non-sectarian and non-authoritarian anti-capitalist front in South Africa. It was formed at the Conference for a Democratic Left held in Johannesburg in January 2011....
.