As for me, I didn’t have high hopes. You cannot expect genuine meaningful change in a violent system without using violence yourself. They promised a peaceful shutdown, and it was peaceful. To me, today was a show of strength. The workers of South Africa are able to organise themselves and conduct themselves with discipline. The fact that the state was so threatening and afraid proves that we have the power to do anything when the time comes. For now, South Africa’s leftist parties and organisations need to continue organising and strengthening our power, so that when the next shutdown, or mass protest, or even revolution comes, it will be done with eloquence and precision.
Was today a victory? In some aspects yes, in others no. But it definitely wasn’t a failure. Thousands of people protesting despite the state’s threats and bringing several strategic areas to a halt doesn’t scream failure, it screams progress and growing strength. The media definitely sensationalised the possibilities and fearmongering was everywhere, so it was insanely hyped up and over exaggerated. The protests could’ve been bigger, more places could’ve been slowed down, etc etc etc. There’s always ways to improve.