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Protests in South Africa

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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 although there is evidence of growing unhappiness with service delivery[10] most analysts argue that this description is overly narrow and misleading.[11][12][13][14] A number of poor people's movements have insisted that their protests should not be referred to as 'service delivery protests'.[15][16][17] But others have termed the rapidly increasing wave of protest sine 2004 as a 'rebellion of the poor'[8][18] or a series of 'municipal revolts'.[19]

Some of the most notable protests during this period occurred in Harrismith, Kennedy Road, Durban, Diepsloot, Balfour, Thokoza,[20][21] Khutsong,[14] Macassar Village, Lansdowne Road[22][23] and Mandela Park[24][25] in Khayelitsha, KwaZakhele, downtown Durban,[26] Masiphumelele, Ermelo[27] and Grahamstown.[16]

Protests continue and some analysts take the view that protests are becoming increasingly radical.[28] 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."[29]

A number of community organisations and movements have emerged from this wave of protest.[30][31]

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[50] (especially with regard to housing)[51]
  • Government Corruption (especially at the local level)[52][53][54]
  • Undemocratic structure of wards and development forums[55]
  • Top down selection for party positions within the ANC [55][56][57][58]
  • Top down and authoritarian approaches to governance[59]
  • Evictions and forced removals[60]
  • Rampant crime[16][61]
  • Unemployment[62]
  • Police brutality [63][64]
  • Provincial border demarcation issues[14]

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,[65] land occupations, the mass appropriation of food[26][38][66] and vote strikes[67][68][69] 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.[70]

Police Brutality in Response to Protest

A number of people have been killed by the police in these protests over the years[27][34][71][72][73][74] and at least seven people were killed in 2011[75] including Andries Tatane.[47][76][77][78][79][80][81][82] There have also been constant allegations of non-fatal police brutality against protestors.[74][83][84] [85][86]

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