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* Unequal and segregated distribution of land in both rural and urban areas
* Unequal and segregated distribution of land in both rural and urban areas
* Poor Service delivery<ref>[http://www.tnsresearchsurveys.co.za/news-centre/pdf/2011/ServiceDeliveryend2010-4March2011.pdf Expect more flash-points - half of SA’s metro residents are still not satisfied with service delivery a year later], TNS Research, 4 March 2011</ref>,especially with regard to housing<ref>[http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=142645 Dismay over service delivery growing, survey shows], CHANTELLE BENJAMIN, ''Business Day'', 2011/05/13]</ref>
* Poor Service delivery<ref>[http://www.tnsresearchsurveys.co.za/news-centre/pdf/2011/ServiceDeliveryend2010-4March2011.pdf Expect more flash-points - half of SA’s metro residents are still not satisfied with service delivery a year later], TNS Research, 4 March 2011</ref> (especially with regard to housing)<ref>[http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=142645 Dismay over service delivery growing, survey shows], CHANTELLE BENJAMIN, ''Business Day'', 2011/05/13]</ref>
* Government Corruption (especially at the local level)<ref>[http://www.abahlali.org/node/7852 Ayikho impunga yehlathi (There is no place to hide in the world)], [[Abahlali baseMjondolo]], 9 March 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.opendemocracy.net/moeletsi-mbeki/corruption-and-dependence-south-africa%E2%80%99s-road-to-ruin-or-salvation Corruption and Dependence: South Africa’s road to ruin or salvation?], Moeletsi Mbeki, ''Open Democracy'', 31 March 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/641.1 Mucking out the Durban City Hall], Richard Pithouse,''SACSIS'', March 22, 2011</ref>
* Government Corruption (especially at the local level)<ref>[http://www.abahlali.org/node/7852 Ayikho impunga yehlathi (There is no place to hide in the world)], [[Abahlali baseMjondolo]], 9 March 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.opendemocracy.net/moeletsi-mbeki/corruption-and-dependence-south-africa%E2%80%99s-road-to-ruin-or-salvation Corruption and Dependence: South Africa’s road to ruin or salvation?], Moeletsi Mbeki, ''Open Democracy'', 31 March 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/641.1 Mucking out the Durban City Hall], Richard Pithouse,''SACSIS'', March 22, 2011</ref>
* Undemocratic structure of wards and development forums<ref name="businessday.co.za">[http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=141624 ANC’s tinkering won’t make democracy work], Steven Friedman, ''Business Day'', 4 May 2011</ref>
* Undemocratic structure of wards and development forums<ref name="businessday.co.za">[http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=141624 ANC’s tinkering won’t make democracy work], Steven Friedman, ''Business Day'', 4 May 2011</ref>

Revision as of 06:51, 16 May 2011

South Africa has been dubbed "the protest capital of the world"[1] and has one of the highest rates of public protest in the world. During the 2004/05 financial year about 6,000 protests were officially recorded, an unknown number of protests went unrecorded, and about 1,000 protests were illegally banned. This meant that at least 15 protests were taking place each day in South Africa at this time.[2][3] However the number of protests has escalated dramatically since then and Business Day reports that "2009 and 2010 together account for about two-thirds of all protests since 2004" [4] There was a dramatic surge in protests shortly after Jacob Zuma first took office and the number of protests was ten times higher in 2009 than in 2004 and even higher in 2010.[5] Just under 40% of all protests take place in shack settlements.[4] There has been a significant degree of repression of popular protest.[6][7]

The Rebellion of the Poor

There has been a major wave of popular protest since 2004.[8][9]

These protests are usually referred to as service delivery protests in the media but most analysts argue that this description is misleading.[10][11][12][13] A number of poor people's movements have insisted that their protests should not be referred to as 'service delivery protests'.[14][15][16] But others have termed the rapidly increasing wave of protest sine 2004 as a 'rebellion of the poor'[8][17] or a series of 'municipal revolts'.[18]

Some of the most notable protests during this period occurred in Harrismith, Kennedy Road, Durban, Diepsloot, Balfour, Thokoza,[19][20] Khutsong,[13] Macassar Village, Lansdowne Road[21][22] and Mandela Park[23][24] in Khayelitsha, KwaZakhele, downtown Durban,[25] Masiphumelele, Ermelo[26] and Grahamstown.[15]

Protests continue and some analysts take the view that protests are becoming increasingly radical.[27] Some commentators have concluded that "a large majority of South Africans feel that conventional mechanisms of engaging the state are failing, and that alternatives may be more effective."[28]

A number of community organisations and movements have emerged from this wave of protest.[29][30]

Notable protests

Notable post-apartheid protest campaigns

Reasons for protest

  • Unequal and segregated distribution of land in both rural and urban areas
  • Poor Service delivery[49] (especially with regard to housing)[50]
  • Government Corruption (especially at the local level)[51][52][53]
  • Undemocratic structure of wards and development forums[54]
  • Top down selection for party positions within the ANC [54][55][56][57]
  • Top down and authoritarian approaches to governance[58]
  • Evictions and forced removals[59]
  • Rampant crime[15][60]
  • Unemployment[61]
  • Police brutality [62][63]
  • Provincial border demarcation issues[13]

Tactics

See also: Toyi-toyi

The toyi-toyi originally a Zimbabwean dance, has been used for decades in South Africa as a protest tool. Road blockades,[64] land occupations, the mass appropriation of food[25][37][65] and vote strikes[66][67][68] are also common tactics.

In areas with high rates of popular protest residents tend to boycott elections, to support independent candidates or to support parties other than the ANC.[69]

Police Brutality in Response to Protest

A number of people have been killed by the police in these protests over the years[26][33][70][71][72][73] and at least seven people were killed in 2011[74] including Andries Tatane.[46][75][76][77][78][79][80][81] There have also been constant allegations of non-fatal police brutality against protestors.[73][82][83] [84][85]

People Killed by the Police During Protests in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Further reading

Other Resources

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ ‘Black boers’ and other revolutionary songs, Chris Rodrigues, 2010
  2. ^ "Amandla! Protest in the New South Africa". FXI.
  3. ^ Sekwanele! - Social Movement Struggles for Land and Housing in Post-Apartheid South Africa, by Toussaint Losier, Left Turn Magazine, 2010
  4. ^ a b Are fiery street protests replacing the vote?, Karen Heese and Kevin Allan, Business Day
  5. ^ Municipal Hotsopts Monitor research as reported in the City Press newspaper, 20 February 2011
  6. ^ Dissent Under Jacob Zuma, Jane Duncan, May 2011
  7. ^ Dissent Under Thabo Mbeki, Jane Duncan, May 2011
  8. ^ a b c Rebellion of the poor: South Africa’s service delivery protests – a preliminary analysis, Peter Alexander, Amandla Magazine, 2010
  9. ^ Rebellions of the poor, by the poor, for the poor, Khadija Patel, The Daily Maverick, May 2011
  10. ^ Burning message to the state in the fire of poor’s rebellion, Richard Pithouse, Business Day, 2009/07/23
  11. ^ People are demanding public service, not service delivery, Steven Friedman, Business Day, 2009
  12. ^ The Service Delivery Myth, Richard Pitthouse, The Daily Dispatch, 2011
  13. ^ a b c d “We are Gauteng People” Challenging the politics of xenophobia in Khutsong, South Africa, Seminar Presentation, Joshua Kirshner, 23 February 2011, Rhodes University
  14. ^ Living Learning, Abahlali baseMjondolo
  15. ^ a b c d South African rebellion comes to Grahamstown, Unemployed People's Movement, 2011
  16. ^ The Uprising, Dylan Valley interviewed by Sean Jacobs
  17. ^ Rebellions of the poor, by the poor, for the poor, Khadija Patel, The Daily Maverick, May 2011
  18. ^ Making sense of municipal revolts, by Mandisi Majavu, Foundation for Contemporary Research, 2011
  19. ^ "Police get blame for making protests worse". Business Day.
  20. ^ "Protest violence: cops blamed". News24.
  21. ^ "An Urgent Update on AbM-WC Protest". Khayelitsha Struggles.
  22. ^ "Cop fires on Cape Argus team". Cape Argus.
  23. ^ "Mandela Park Backyarders to march peacefully on Housing MEC at 9am this morning". Mandela Park Backyarders. [dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Hundreds protested yesterday in Mandela Park after assault by Chippa security guards. Demonstrations to continue…". Mandela Park Backyarders.
  25. ^ a b "94 arrested for protest thefts at supermarkets". Daily News.
  26. ^ a b c Ermelo Residents See No Reason to Vote, Diane Hawker, Independent Online, 2010
  27. ^ The 'Gatvol' Factor, Jane Duncan, 2011
  28. ^ Delivery protests National problem requires local, tailor-made solutions, Udesh Pillay, Business Day, 1 April 2011
  29. ^ The elite and community protests in South Africa, Shawn Hattingh, LibCom, 2009
  30. ^ The 'new' ANC and the Alliance, Shawn Hattingh, Z Mag,2009
  31. ^ Harrismith police killing follow-up, Freedom of Expression Institute, 2004
  32. ^ A collection of newspaper articles on the Harrismith protest
  33. ^ a b c Tatane’s death opens old wounds for family, Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, 2011-04-24
  34. ^ Struggle Is a School: The Rise of a Shack Dwellers’ Movement in Durban, South Africa, Richard Pithouse, Monthly Review, 2006
  35. ^ South Africa’s Poor Renew a Tradition of Protest, Barry Bearak, New York Times, September 2009
  36. ^ Martin Legassick on the Macassar Village Land Occupation in Cape Town, Martin Legassick, 2009
  37. ^ a b South Africa's Outraged Poor Threaten President, Megan Lindow, Time Magazine, Jul. 24, 2009
  38. ^ "Shack dwellers up in arms". Sowetan.
  39. ^ "Sutcliffe Continues His War on the Poor". Abahlali.
  40. ^ The Rebellion of the Poor Comes to Grahamstown
  41. ^ The Flames of Phaphamani, by Pedro Alexis Tabensky, LibCom
  42. ^ Bullets fly as township erupts, Thabo Jijana, Grocott's Mail, 10 February 2011
  43. ^ Protests in Zandspruit
  44. ^ Police fire rubber bullets in Zandspruit, Jacob Moshokoa, Eye Witness News, April 2011
  45. ^ South Africa rocked by footage of protester's death, Monsters & Critics, 14 April 2011
  46. ^ a b SAPS, SABC under fire after Ficksburg killing, The Times, 14 April 2011
  47. ^ Ficksburg protesters torch buildings, by Miranda Andrew, Mail & Guardian, 14 April 2011
  48. ^ Hall torched in housing protest, Mandla Mnayakama, The New Age, 29 April 2011
  49. ^ Expect more flash-points - half of SA’s metro residents are still not satisfied with service delivery a year later, TNS Research, 4 March 2011
  50. ^ Dismay over service delivery growing, survey shows, CHANTELLE BENJAMIN, Business Day, 2011/05/13]
  51. ^ Ayikho impunga yehlathi (There is no place to hide in the world), Abahlali baseMjondolo, 9 March 2011
  52. ^ Corruption and Dependence: South Africa’s road to ruin or salvation?, Moeletsi Mbeki, Open Democracy, 31 March 2011
  53. ^ Mucking out the Durban City Hall, Richard Pithouse,SACSIS, March 22, 2011
  54. ^ a b ANC’s tinkering won’t make democracy work, Steven Friedman, Business Day, 4 May 2011
  55. ^ ANC faces fury over candidate selection, Sabelo Ndlangisa, Sizwe sama Sende and Cedric Mboyisa, City Press, 2011
  56. ^ Turmoil in party shows limitations of ‘democratic centralism’, John Kane-Berman, Business Day, March 2011
  57. ^ ANC List Sparks Fury, Sibongile Mashaba, Sowetan, March 2011
  58. ^ What the State's Response to the Anger of Protesting Communities Is Not Telling Us, by Ibrahim Steyn, 2009
  59. ^ A self-written history of Mandela Park: Kwanele! Enough Is Genoeg!, Mandela Park Backyarders
  60. ^ Dismay over service delivery growing, survey shows, CHANTELLE BENJAMIN, Business Day, 2011/05/13]
  61. ^ Dismay over service delivery growing, survey shows, CHANTELLE BENJAMIN, Business Day, 2011/05/13]
  62. ^ March on the Sydenham Police Station: Press Release & Memorandum, Abahlali baseMjondolo, 2007
  63. ^ Ficksburg killing sparks riot, Deon de Lange, Pretoria News, 15 April 2011
  64. ^ The Enduring Rationality of Revolt, Richard Pithouse
  65. ^ The Witness]=25560 No mercy, no grants, says Mkhize, Nalini Naidoo, Sharlene Packree and Sapa, The Witness, 2009
  66. ^ "The Thoroughly Democratic Logic of Refusing to Vote". SACSIS., Richard Pithouse
  67. ^ The revolt of South Africa’s untouchables, Pedro Alexis Tabensky, Pambazuka, March 2011
  68. ^ Give ANC a sign - but without boycott, Fred Khumalo, Sunday Times, March 2011
  69. ^ Hotspot voters dump ANC, by Sizwe sama Yende, Lucas Ledwaba, Dumisane Lubisi and Cedric Mboyisa, City Press, 2011-04-24
  70. ^ Charge three senior cops with murder -- ICD, Bate Felix, City Press, 5 June 2009
  71. ^ Dissent Can Still Get You Killed, Richard Pithouse, The Witness, 16 June 2006
  72. ^ Two student protesters killed by police in Durban, South Africa, Trevor Johnson, World Socialist Website, 2001
  73. ^ a b Independent Report into Political Violence Against Landless People's Movement, Jared Sacks, International Alliance of Inhabitants, 2010
  74. ^ Most feel let down by their municipality, Brendan Boyle, The Times, 5 March 2011
  75. ^ Tatane's Death Underlines Need for Government to Deliver by Andile Mngxitama, Sowetan, 19 April 2011
  76. ^ Only police chiefs can end it, David Bruce, Sunday Times,24 April 2011
  77. ^ Police violence in Ficksburg is not anything new, Steven Friedman, Business Day, 20 April 2011
  78. ^ Murdered by the Ruling Classes, by Shawn Hattingh, Anarkismo, 21 April 2011
  79. ^ Police brutality and service delivery protests, by Mphutlane wa Bofelo, Pambazuka News, 21 April 2011
  80. ^ We condemn the murder of Andries Tatane and the securitisation of South African politics, Democratic Left Front, 21 April 2011
  81. ^ Protester's death not an isolated case, ILHAM RAWOOT AND GLYNNIS UNDERHILL, Mail & Guardian, Apr 15
  82. ^ A collection of articles and statements on police brutality
  83. ^ The Flames of Phaphamani, by Pedro Alexis Tabensky, LibCom
  84. ^ a b Profile of a town on fire, Kwanele Sosibo, Mail & Guardian, March 2011
  85. ^ Worries emerge over freedom of expression in South Africa, Jane Duncan, 2010
  86. ^ On the Murder of Andries Tatane, Richard Pithouse
  87. ^ Go Bokke Go!, Andile Mngxitama, The New Black Magazine, 2007
  88. ^ Police shoot dead two high school pupils resisting eviction, Report by Anti-Privatisation Forum Kathorus Concerned Residents (KCR), 19/02/04
  89. ^ On the Murder of Andries Tatane, Richard Pithouse, All Africa, April 2011
  90. ^ Activist killed by South African police at demonstration against water privatisation, IndyMedia Ireland, 2008
  91. ^ Two deaths, dozens of injuries and counting..., Jared Sacks, Abahlali.org, July 2010
  92. ^ Man shot during protest dies, SAPA, IOL, Oct 2010
  93. ^ Police brutality, Leadership Magazine, 25 April 2011
  94. ^ South Africa Police open fire on protesters following 3rd day of aggressive action, USAfricaOnline, 16 Feb 2011
  95. ^ SA police fire rubber bullets, Herald, 16 Feb 2011
  96. ^ Ermelo Residents See No Reason To Vote, Dianne Hawker, IOL, 20 February 2011
  97. ^ 100 victims of police brutality take action, Sizwe Sam Yende, City Press, 8 May 2011
  98. ^ ‘We want jobs now’, IOL, 4 March 2011
  99. ^ 1,200 strikers face axe, IOL, 5 March 2011
  100. ^ South African union activist killed: Demand justice now, Public Services International, 2011
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