The Independent Electoral Commission on May 21 approved the application for registration as a political party by the Workers and Socialist Party (WASP). WASP was formed by mineworkers’ strike committees together with the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) which played a key role in the mining industry strikes which followed the Marikana massacre in August 2012.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This is another step towards clearing the way for WASP to contest the 2014 elections; something we see as a platform that must be used to further the key task of WASP: to unite the struggles of workers, working class communities and youth, says Mametlwe Sebei, WASP spokesperson.
WASP is currently involved in various struggles of communities and workers, for example the joint efforts of residents of poor south Gauteng working class communities from Thula’ Mntwana, Orange Farm, and Kliptown to Khutsong to fight evictions, electricity cut-offs and lack of housing.
A main focus at the moment is of course on the mass struggle that is needed to fight back the mass retrenchments at Amplats and across the mining industry.
As per the provisions of the Electoral Act, a registration certificate will be issued on the lapsing of the 30-day period allowing for appeals should there be any aggrieved parties.