South Africa Elections: EFF in parliament and the power of symbols

“My father was a garden boy; my mother was a kitchen girl, that’s why I am a socialist”

Popular South African working class/ socialist song

South Africa’s 2014 elections have brought a new voice to the National parliament, the EFF -a party that has wasted no time in making their first steps towards shaking up South Africa’s political landscape. The EFF’s members went to the legislature dressed in regalia symbolising their working class linkages. Garbed in overalls and domestic worker uniforms, the party is not only trying to represent the South African class struggle, but also speak to the racial undertones of South Africa’s socio-economic stratification. Similar uniforms are worn by those working mostly in white households during the apartheid era called “garden boys” and “kitchen girls” by their employees. These terms are still seen to have lingered around in some of South Africa’s suburban areas.

The words were powerful in reinforcing power relations in apartheid South Africa. Black adults were given the labels of children, boy and girl; a potent process in removing their dignity.  In the modern era, such words have been used as a form of insult against blacks who happen to operate in organisations perceived as serving white interests. Ironically, this insult has been used by black people in the dominant political party to lambast their counter parts in organisations such as the Democratic Alliance. EFF leaders, Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu, are famously known for constantly using such words against black DA members, particularly former parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko who was called a “tea girl”. Language is still powerful in setting the political discourse in South Africa. In going to parliament in this manner, the EFF is showing that it plans to stay true to promise of waging the class struggle. The EFF may be able to change the negative impact of the terms above, by being the voice of the people in that particular class structure.

South Africa’s parliamentarians are far removed from the rest of the country economically as well, earning an annual salary of around R889 000. This is the equivalent of US$85,289, a salary level that would place someone in the upper-middle class in the USA. Should one include the various benefits of MPs, such a set number of free flights on SAA, this annual salary rises further. Dress is a dominant symbol of class, and this has been even more apparent in parliaments “red-carpet” like opening ceremonies, something which is akin to what one may see in Hollywood. The EFF’s decision of wearing bright red working class outfits will change parliament, at least aesthetically. Perhaps these drastic visual transformation will trickle down and ensure that the struggles of South Africa’s lowest paid working group is kept top of the agenda in South Africa’s legislative centre.

Across the world, there are many important examples of the power of visual symbolism. The EFF in some way resembles socialist leaning parties of Venezuela and Cuba. Leaders in these countries, and also in many other African countries, have withdrawn from the traditional look found in many western parliaments, and gone for a look that finds resonance with the histories and cultures of their own countries.

The symbolic gesture made by the EFF may go a long way in closing the distance between the South African legislature and the rest of society. The EFF, however, has to follow through with concrete actions in the legislative process, including curtailing some of the extravagant expenditures allowed for parliamentarians. Left wing activists like Cosatu General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, have wailed against the conspicuous consumption exhibited by South Africa’s MPs. Should the EFF carry on this struggle it could grow their level of respect in South Africa, placing them in an advantageous position for the 2016 Local and Municipal elections.

Originally published on the africapractice website here: http://www.africapractice.com/blogposts/page/23/?id=6442

#EFF #JuliusMalema #Shivambu #Parliament #SouthAfrica #NationalAssembly #politics #elections #symbolism #Africa #socialism #communism #Chavez