Protest in South Africa
Encyclopedia
South Africa
has been dubbed "the protest capital of the world" 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. 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" 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. Just under 40% of all protests take place in shack settlements. There has been a significant degree of repression of popular protest.
These protests are usually referred to as service delivery protests in the media but although there is evidence of growing unhappiness with service delivery most analysts argue that this description is overly narrow and misleading. A number of poor people's movements have insisted that their protests should not be referred to as 'service delivery protests'. But others have termed the rapidly increasing wave of protest sine 2004 as a 'rebellion of the poor' or a series of 'municipal revolts'. Zwelinzima Vavi
, COSATU Secretary General, has described the increasing rate of popular protest as a "ring of fire" closing in on major cities that could result in a Tunisia
style revolution.
Some of the most notable protests during this period occurred in Harrismith
, Kennedy Road, Durban
, Diepsloot
, Balfour
, Thokoza
, Khutsong
, Macassar Village, Lansdowne Road and Mandela Park in Khayelitsha
, KwaZakhele, downtown Durban
, Masiphumelele, Ermelo
, Grahamstown
. and Thembelihle (Lenasia).
Protests continue and some analysts take the view that protests are becoming increasingly radical. 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."
A number of community organisations and movements have emerged from this wave of protest some of which organise outside of party politics.
originally a Zimbabwe
an dance, has been used for decades in South Africa as a protest tool. Road blockades, land occupations, the mass appropriation of food and vote strikes are also common tactics.
, to support independent candidates or to support parties other than the ANC.
. There have also been constant allegations of non-fatal police brutality against protestors.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
has been dubbed "the protest capital of the world" 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. 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" There was a dramatic surge in protests shortly after Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
first took office and the number of protests was ten times higher in 2009 than in 2004 and even higher in 2010. Just under 40% of all protests take place in shack settlements. There has been a significant degree of repression of popular protest.
The Rebellion of the Poor, Municipal Revolts or the Ring of Fire
There has been a major wave of popular protest since 2004.These protests are usually referred to as service delivery protests in the media but although there is evidence of growing unhappiness with service delivery most analysts argue that this description is overly narrow and misleading. A number of poor people's movements have insisted that their protests should not be referred to as 'service delivery protests'. But others have termed the rapidly increasing wave of protest sine 2004 as a 'rebellion of the poor' or a series of 'municipal revolts'. Zwelinzima Vavi
Zwelinzima Vavi
Zwelinzima Vavi is General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions , and Vice-Chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council.-Early life:...
, COSATU Secretary General, has described the increasing rate of popular protest as a "ring of fire" closing in on major cities that could result in a Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
style revolution.
Some of the most notable protests during this period occurred in Harrismith
Harrismith
Harrismith, named after Sir Harry Smith, is a large town in the Free State province of South Africa, situated on the N3 highway approximately midway between Johannesburg, about 300 km north-east, and Durban. The town is at the junction with the N5 highway, which continues west towards the...
, Kennedy Road, Durban
Kennedy Road, Durban
Kennedy Road is a shack settlement, in the suburb of Clare Estate in Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was founded by a Mr. Mzobe in the late 1970s. The land on which the settlement was founded is steep and runs down between the Municipal Dump and the 6 lane Umgeni Road...
, Diepsloot
Diepsloot, Gauteng
Diepsloot is in the north of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in the newly formed Region A , and is a densely populated settlement made up of Government subsidised housing, brick houses built by land owners and shacks. These shacks are built on whichever piece of land that has nothing...
, Balfour
Balfour, Mpumalanga
Balfour is a small coal mining and maize farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The town was established in 1898 as McHattiesburg after its founder Frederick McHattie. In 1905 the town changed its name when the British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour gave a speech at the local station platform...
, Thokoza
Thokoza
Thokoza is a township south of Johannesburg, South Africa at the location of the now defunct Palmietfontein Airport. It is situated south east of Alberton, adjacent to Katlehong on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1973 and together with Katlehong it forms the second...
, Khutsong
Khutsong
Khutsong is a township on the West Rand of South Africa, and scene of widespread unrest since February 2006. It is situated close to the town of Carletonville , in the Merafong City Local Municipality of the Gauteng province.-Riots:...
, Macassar Village, Lansdowne Road and Mandela Park in Khayelitsha
Khayelitsha
Khayelitsha is a partially informal township in Western Cape, South Africa, located on the Cape Flats in the City of Cape Town. The name is Xhosa for New Home...
, KwaZakhele, downtown Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, Masiphumelele, Ermelo
Ermelo, Mpumalanga
Ermelo is the educational, industrial and commercial centre of the 7,750 km² Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province, Republic of South Africa. Mixed farming and anthracite, coal and torbanite mining take place here...
, Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
. and Thembelihle (Lenasia).
Protests continue and some analysts take the view that protests are becoming increasingly radical. 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."
A number of community organisations and movements have emerged from this wave of protest some of which organise outside of party politics.
Notable protests
- The HarrismithHarrismithHarrismith, named after Sir Harry Smith, is a large town in the Free State province of South Africa, situated on the N3 highway approximately midway between Johannesburg, about 300 km north-east, and Durban. The town is at the junction with the N5 highway, which continues west towards the...
protests in 2004 - The Kennedy RoadKennedy RoadKennedy Road may refer to:*Kennedy Road *Kennedy Road, Durban*Kennedy Road, Hong Kong*Kennedy Street, Istanbul*Kennedy Street, Ankara*Kennedy Expressway in Chicago, Illinois*Kennedy Highway in Queensland, Australia...
road blockade on 19 March 2005 - The N2 Gateway occupationsN2 Gateway occupationsThe N2 Gateway Occupations saw large numbers of government-built houses occupied illegally by local residents of Delft in the Western Cape during December, 2007. The houses in question were the new Breaking New Ground houses in the Symphony section of Delft near the main road Symphony Way...
where over 1,000 families occupied unfinished BNG houses to protest unfair and corrupt allocation of houses. - The February 2008 Symphony Way road occupation which has lasted over 1 year and 9 months
- The KhutsongKhutsongKhutsong is a township on the West Rand of South Africa, and scene of widespread unrest since February 2006. It is situated close to the town of Carletonville , in the Merafong City Local Municipality of the Gauteng province.-Riots:...
protests - The BalfourBalfour-People:* Balfour , a Scottish family name* Lord Balfour of Burleigh* Baron Balfour of Glenawley* Sir Graham Balfour, Victorian statistician and member of Florence Nightingale's inner circle.-Earls of Balfour:...
protest of 2009 - The Macassar Village Land OccupationMacassar Village Land OccupationThe squatter's movement Abahlali baseMjondolo occupied a piece of vacant state owned land in Macassar Village, near Somerset West outside of Cape Town on 18 May 2009...
in May 2009 - The Durban proletarian shopping protest in July 2009
- The Abahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
march on Jacob Zuma in March, 2010. City Manager Mike Sutcliffe tried to ban the shackdwellers from occupying the CBD - The protests in ErmeloErmelo, MpumalangaErmelo is the educational, industrial and commercial centre of the 7,750 km² Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province, Republic of South Africa. Mixed farming and anthracite, coal and torbanite mining take place here...
,GrahamstownGrahamstownGrahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
, Zandspruit FicksburgFicksburgFicksburg is a town situated at the foot of the 450m high Imperani Mountain in Free State province, South Africa. The town was set up by General Johan Fick who won the territory in the Basotho Wars...
, Makhaza in KhayelitshaKhayelitshaKhayelitsha is a partially informal township in Western Cape, South Africa, located on the Cape Flats in the City of Cape Town. The name is Xhosa for New Home...
, the Samora Machel squatter camp in Mitchell's PlainMitchell's PlainMitchells Plain is a largely coloured township about 20 km from the city of Cape Town. It is one of South Africa's largest townships. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Strandfontein and Khayelitsha...
, Cape Town, Shaka's Kraal in KwaZulu-Natal, Noordgesig, SowetoSowetoSoweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
and Themb'elihle, Johannesburg, all in 2011.
Notable post-apartheid protest campaigns
- The Treatment Action CampaignTreatment Action CampaignThe Treatment Action Campaign is a South African AIDS activist organization which was founded by the HIV-positive activist Zackie Achmat in 1998. TAC is rooted in the experiences, direct action tactics and anti-apartheid background of its founder...
's largely successful struggle for access to AIDS medication - The No Land! No House! No Vote!No Land! No House! No Vote!No Land! No House! No Vote! is the name of a campaign by a number of poor people's movements in South Africa that calls for the boycotting of the vote and a general rejection of party politics and vote banking...
Campaign is a popular nationwide protest movement of the Poor People's AlliancePoor People's AllianceThe Poor People's Alliance is a network of radical grassroots movements in South Africa. It was formed in 2008 after the Action Alliance, formed in December 2006, was expanded to include two more organisations....
boycotting electoral politics. - The Right2Know Campaign is a NGO led campaign in defence of media freedom
Reasons for protest
- Unequal and segregated distribution of land in both rural and urban areas
- Poor Service delivery (especially with regard to housing)
- Government Corruption (especially at the local level)
- Undemocratic structure of wards and development forums
- Top down selection for party positions within the ANC
- Top down and authoritarian approaches to governance
- Evictions and forced removals
- Rampant crime
- Unemployment
- Police brutality
- Provincial border demarcation issues
- Increases in transport prices
- Electricity disconnections and increases in electricity prices
Tactics
The toyi-toyiToyi-toyi
Toyi-toyi is a Southern African dance originally from Zimbabwe that has long been used in political protests in South Africa.Toyi-toyi could begin as the stomping of feet and spontaneous chanting during protests that could include political slogans or songs, either improvised or previously created...
originally a Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an dance, has been used for decades in South Africa as a protest tool. Road blockades, land occupations, the mass appropriation of food and vote strikes are also common tactics.
Popular Protest & Elections
In areas with high rates of popular protest residents tend to boycott electionsNo Land! No House! No Vote!
No Land! No House! No Vote! is the name of a campaign by a number of poor people's movements in South Africa that calls for the boycotting of the vote and a general rejection of party politics and vote banking...
, to support independent candidates or to support parties other than the ANC.
Police Brutality in Response to Protest
A number of people have been killed by the police in these protests over the years and at least eleven people have been killed so far (i.e. in June) in 2011 including Andries TataneAndries Tatane
Andries Tatane was a 33 year old South African citizen who died during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg. Six officers were arrested on 16 April 2011 in connection with his death and are currently still in police custody...
. There have also been constant allegations of non-fatal police brutality against protestors.
People Killed by the Police During Protests in Post-Apartheid South Africa
- Michael Makhabane DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, 2000 - Dennis Mathibithi (17) and Nhlanhla Masuku (15), Kathlehong, 2004
- Tebogo Mkhonza (17), HarrismithHarrismithHarrismith, named after Sir Harry Smith, is a large town in the Free State province of South Africa, situated on the N3 highway approximately midway between Johannesburg, about 300 km north-east, and Durban. The town is at the junction with the N5 highway, which continues west towards the...
, 2004 - Monica Ngcobo, (19) DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, 2005 - Jan Matshobe, (27) Sebokeng, Johannesburg, 2008
- Priscilla Sukai (46) eTwatwa, Daveyton, 2010
- Unnamed man, Lion Park, JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, 2010 - Anna Nokele (19), WelkomWelkomWelkom is a city in the Free State province of South Africa, located 160 kilometres northeast of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital. Welkom received municipal status in 1961 and was declared a city in 1968 on the 14th of February...
, 2010 - Two unnamed children, Boipelo, Gauteng, 2011
- Solomon Madonsela, & Bongani Mathebula ErmeloErmelo, MpumalangaErmelo is the educational, industrial and commercial centre of the 7,750 km² Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province, Republic of South Africa. Mixed farming and anthracite, coal and torbanite mining take place here...
, 2011 - Joseph Msiza, Tshwane, 2011
- Petros Msiza (43), PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, 2011 - Andries TataneAndries TataneAndries Tatane was a 33 year old South African citizen who died during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg. Six officers were arrested on 16 April 2011 in connection with his death and are currently still in police custody...
(33), FicksburgFicksburgFicksburg is a town situated at the foot of the 450m high Imperani Mountain in Free State province, South Africa. The town was set up by General Johan Fick who won the territory in the Basotho Wars...
, 2011 - Dimakatso Kgaswane and another unnamed person, Tlokweng, Swartruggens, 2011
- Three unnamed people in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, 2011
People Killed by Private Security Guards During Protests in Post-Apartheid South Africa
- Ntombiyenkosi Mabika, 24, Shaka's Kraal, June 2011
Further reading
- We are the Third Force, by S'bu ZikodeS'bu ZikodeSibusiso Innocent Zikode is the president of the South African shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo. According to the Mail & Guardian "Under his stewardship, ABM has made steady gains for housing rights." -Biography:...
, 2005 - National Trends Around Protest Action by the Freedom of Expression Institute
- Amandla! Protest in the New South Africa, Simon Delaney, Freedom of Expression Institute, May 2007
- In Service of the People's Democracy: An assessment of the South African Police Service, by David Bruce with Gareth Newham & Themba Masuku, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, 2007
- Burning message to the state in the fire of poor’s rebellion, Richard Pithouse, Business Day, 2009/07/23
- The Elite and Community Protests in South Africa, Shawn Hattingh, August 5, 2009
- People are demanding public service, not service delivery, Steven FriedmanSteven FriedmanSteven Friedman is an academic, newspaper columnist and widely quoted public intellectual and activist. He directs the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa...
, Business Day, 2009 - Service Delivery Protests: Findings from Quick Response Research on Four Hot-Spots’ – Piet Retief, Balfour, Thokoza, Diepsloot, Centre for Sociological Research, 2009
- Rebellion of the poor: South Africa’s service delivery protests – a preliminary analysis, by Peter Alexander, 2010
- South Africa: The Enduring Rationality of Revolt, Richard Pithouse, 2010
- Making sense of municipal revolts, by Mandisi Majavu, Foundation for Contemporary Research, 2011
- A State of Deep Crisis in South Africa's Local Government, by Dale T. McKinley, SACSIS, 2011
- Local Government Elections: The Will of the People? , by Jane Duncan, SACSIS, 2011
- Police brutality and service delivery protests, by Mphutlane wa Bofelo, Pambazuka News, 21 April 2011
- Dissent Under Jacob Zuma, Jane Duncan, May 2011
- Dissent Under Thabo Mbeki, Jane Duncan, May 2011
- Rebellions of the poor, by the poor, for the poor, Khadija Patel, The Daily Maverick, May 2011
- Jobless youth a ‘ticking time bomb’ for SA, Vavi warns, Sam Mkokeli, Business Day, 2011/06/07
- The smoke that calls: Insurgent citizenship, collective violence and the struggle for a place in the new South Africa, Society, Work & Development Institute, 2011
Other Resources
- Service Delivery Protest Map (with media resources), Durham University
See also
- Abahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
- The Landless Peoples MovementLandless Peoples MovementThe Landless People's Movement is an independent social movement in South Africa. It represents rural people and people living in shack settlements in cities. The LPM boycotts parliamentary elections and has a history of conflict with the African National Congress...
- The Mandela Park BackyardersMandela Park BackyardersThe Mandela Park Backyarders or just Backyarders is an unfunded Khayelitsha-based South African social movement made up of poor and marginalised residents of Mandela Park that is working for housing rights and against evictions....
- The Poor People's AlliancePoor People's AllianceThe Poor People's Alliance is a network of radical grassroots movements in South Africa. It was formed in 2008 after the Action Alliance, formed in December 2006, was expanded to include two more organisations....
- The South African Unemployed Peoples' MovementSouth African Unemployed Peoples' MovementThe South African Unemployed Peoples' Movement is a social movement with branches in Durban, Grahamstown and the Northern Provincein South Africa...
- The Western Cape Anti-Eviction CampaignWestern Cape Anti-Eviction CampaignThe Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign is a non-racial popular movement made up of poor and oppressed communities in Cape Town, South Africa...