The Nelson Mandela national memorial day turned out horribly wrong for the bourgeoisie, the ANC, and President Jacob Zuma as the masses completely upset the applecart and took center-stage.  The result was a massive embarrassment for the “respectable people” who had come from all over the world, and especially for President Zuma, who was booed amidst an outpouring of raw emotion by the defiant proletarian crowd.

The December 8th municipal elections in Venezuela gave yet another victory to the Bolivarian revolution, with the Socialist United Party (PSUV) and its allies receiving 5.1 million votes (49.24% of the total) and 4.4 million (42.72%) going to the opposition. The opposition had presented these elections as a plebiscite on Maduro’s presidency; the result, however, will serve to vindicate the decision taken by Maduro’s to fight against the economic sabotage led by the capitalists.

Nelson Mandela is no more. At about 20:50 on Thursday 5th December, Nelson Rohishlahla Mandela passed away peacefully at the age of 95 after a long illness. The news was announced by President Jacob Zuma to a worldwide audience. All across the country people gathered to pay tribute to a freedom fighter. Ben Morken in South Africa looks back at the life of this important political and historic figure.