Jan Theron – Solidarity Road: the story of a trade union in the ending of apartheid, Fanele, Auckland Park, 2016
Two decades on, the wreckage of the movement that led to the end of apartheid is hard to miss. The ANC: dogged by internal strife, corruption and nepotism. The union movement, centred on COSATU, divided and in decline. Powerful organisations like the United Democratic Front are mere memories. How did such vibrant organisations, mostly led by principled, intelligent men and women end up in this mire of abuse and cronyism?
The roots of this malaise can be traced back a very long way.
In the 1950’s as the National Party juggernaut rolled on and the ANC was fighting for its life, the unions were a critical weapon in the resistance. But in the end the non-racial unions of SACTU became little more than a battering ram to try to halt the apartheid monster. The needs and views of the union members were made subservient to the needs of the Congress Alliance. SACTU unions (controlled by the Communist Party) became what was derisorily termed the ‘labour desk’ of the ANC. After Sharpeville the ANC and the unions were crushed and many of the leadership went into exile.
In 1973 workers took to the streets in what became known as the Durban Strikes. White students, associated with the Wages Commissions, took up their cause. Jan Theron was among them. This book is the story of how he came to lead the Food and Canning Workers Union – the only SACTU union to survive the decimation of the 1960’s. It had been founded by Ray Alexander (‘Miss Ray’ to her members) and she continued to send it guiding missives from exile in Zambia. By the time Theron became general secretary in 1976 it was a ghost of the organisation it had once been. Poorly organised and corrupt, it was on its last legs. It had organised Coloured and black African workers in the industry, but had historically done so in two separate organisations. It had survived by keeping its head down, and concentrating on representing employees in the canning factories around Paarl.
It took a mighty effort for Theron to revive the union. Supported by people like Oscar Mpheta, who had been with the union in its heyday, it was resurrected. Branches gradually spread across the country.[1] Theron tells the story of how this was done with great feeling: always downplaying his own role and that of his ever-patient wife, Athalie, while highlighting the role of the workers who took such risks to rebuild the union.