South Africa celebrated 16th years of democracy this year. Momentous changes have occurred
since the end of apartheid and the democratically elections of 1994. The feelings of optimism
about the promise of democracy and a new system are prevalent throughout the country but there are also deep concerns and problems. An unemployment rate of 40%, HIV/AIDS, high infant mortality rate, low life expectancy, and high levels of criminal activity continue to plague the country. The system of apartheid has left deep scars and a legacy that has created deep divisions between the wealthy and the poor, educated and educated, skilled and unskilled. Radical reforms have been undertaken in nearly every sector but it will take years to repair the damages wrought.
For more than 40 years, the country's majority black population suffered under a system of racial separation that fostered white supremacy and denied blacks the right to vote, access to free basic education and freedom of movement. Under apartheid, South Africa maintained unequal education systems organized along racial lines, with vastly inferior institutions catering to black students. South Africa is still a country of great contrasts. One travels down modern highways to shopping malls that could be any developed country. Yet one also passes people living in abject poverty and disease, from Khayalitsha to Tembisa, Kliptown to Winterveldt. Fifty percent of South Africa’s 47 million people live below the poverty line. The Blacks make up 75% of the population yet it appears that the wealthy areas are still mostly white enclaves
While the conditions of poverty, unemployment, disease, and crime are daunting the optimism
one hears from citizens about the prospects of democracy and reforms are inspiring. South Africa has experienced: a complete overhaul of government services; the creation of a democratic constitution grounded in human rights; and a free press including newspapers, radio and television stations. It is also promising that legislation in just about every domain, from policing and education to local government, places particular emphasis on the importance of public participation. In fact, it is a constitutional requirement, without which no policy or legislation making process can advance. Despite this citizen participation in governance is considered weak in South Africa from public meetings to voter participation.
People are still trying to make sense of democracy and the links between democracy and
economic development. Many promises were made at the end of apartheid about what
democracy would bring. Up to today many still question these relationships. Democracy is not
only equated with personal freedom but also economic freedom and justice. The unique thing
about South Africa and its inhabitants is that even though the country is in 16th year of
our young democracy, things do not look good for many in terms of service delivery. Yet our people are still patient, optimistic and hopeful. Many are still trying to make end meet, believing and trusting that things will get better and that it is better now than the past.
There are a number of reasons cited for the lack of citizen involvement. Although there was an
extensive range of civic associations in black townships during the struggle for democracy many
now point to a crisis of civil society in post apartheid South Africa. South Africa’s civil society
was the most vibrant during the mass democratic movement in the country. There was a
dynamic broad based movement of people’s organizations ranging from religious organizations,
youth and students, professional organizations, trade unions, civic associations, professional
bodies, social movements, NGOs and a range of others. It was focused on making the townships
ungovernable and was characterized by civil disobedience, noncompliance, nonpayment of rent
and violence. It reduced the state to exercising repressive violence and ultimately to the delegitimizing the government. These features were necessary in the struggle to end apartheid but not conducive to building a culture of civic obligation, responsibility and democratic behavior.
South Africa does have the advantage of having a history of civil organizations that many
emerging democracies do not. The struggle against apartheid and the resulting growth of
organizations were essential to the emergence of civil society as it appears today. However, the
dynamics of the struggle necessitated resistance, secrecy and violence, it often resulted in
organizations with inadequate governance structures, a lack of accountability and a reluctance to
co-operate and share information. While these organizations were critical to the eventual demise of apartheid, the dynamics of secrecy, conflict and violence of these organizations also created difficult challenges for the transition and development of organizations in the post apartheid era.
Many civic organizations once focused on protest and civil disobedience had difficulty in
defining a role in relation to new South Africa. Also many of the leaders of the civic organizations left their communities to assume posts in the public and private sector.
The loss of leadership, mission and international funding in the NGO sector in the years
immediately after 1994 further weakened South Africa’s civil society. Much of the international
funding that supported the NGOs during the struggles, voter education and elections diminished once there was a democratically elected government.
The role played by the civil society had diminished significantly since democratic change and that the lack of capacity in the civil society organizations could potentially threaten the success of democratic consolidation. While there is a vocal embrace of democracy there is also confusion when it comes to people’s responsibility and experience with the institutions of direct democracy. I believe that unrealized hopes of participatory democracy have led to growing cynicism and political demobilization which pose long term dangers to the
rooting of democracy in South Africa
Mpho Putu, Director of Boundary Crossing Leadership Foundation
since the end of apartheid and the democratically elections of 1994. The feelings of optimism
about the promise of democracy and a new system are prevalent throughout the country but there are also deep concerns and problems. An unemployment rate of 40%, HIV/AIDS, high infant mortality rate, low life expectancy, and high levels of criminal activity continue to plague the country. The system of apartheid has left deep scars and a legacy that has created deep divisions between the wealthy and the poor, educated and educated, skilled and unskilled. Radical reforms have been undertaken in nearly every sector but it will take years to repair the damages wrought.
For more than 40 years, the country's majority black population suffered under a system of racial separation that fostered white supremacy and denied blacks the right to vote, access to free basic education and freedom of movement. Under apartheid, South Africa maintained unequal education systems organized along racial lines, with vastly inferior institutions catering to black students. South Africa is still a country of great contrasts. One travels down modern highways to shopping malls that could be any developed country. Yet one also passes people living in abject poverty and disease, from Khayalitsha to Tembisa, Kliptown to Winterveldt. Fifty percent of South Africa’s 47 million people live below the poverty line. The Blacks make up 75% of the population yet it appears that the wealthy areas are still mostly white enclaves
While the conditions of poverty, unemployment, disease, and crime are daunting the optimism
one hears from citizens about the prospects of democracy and reforms are inspiring. South Africa has experienced: a complete overhaul of government services; the creation of a democratic constitution grounded in human rights; and a free press including newspapers, radio and television stations. It is also promising that legislation in just about every domain, from policing and education to local government, places particular emphasis on the importance of public participation. In fact, it is a constitutional requirement, without which no policy or legislation making process can advance. Despite this citizen participation in governance is considered weak in South Africa from public meetings to voter participation.
People are still trying to make sense of democracy and the links between democracy and
economic development. Many promises were made at the end of apartheid about what
democracy would bring. Up to today many still question these relationships. Democracy is not
only equated with personal freedom but also economic freedom and justice. The unique thing
about South Africa and its inhabitants is that even though the country is in 16th year of
our young democracy, things do not look good for many in terms of service delivery. Yet our people are still patient, optimistic and hopeful. Many are still trying to make end meet, believing and trusting that things will get better and that it is better now than the past.
There are a number of reasons cited for the lack of citizen involvement. Although there was an
extensive range of civic associations in black townships during the struggle for democracy many
now point to a crisis of civil society in post apartheid South Africa. South Africa’s civil society
was the most vibrant during the mass democratic movement in the country. There was a
dynamic broad based movement of people’s organizations ranging from religious organizations,
youth and students, professional organizations, trade unions, civic associations, professional
bodies, social movements, NGOs and a range of others. It was focused on making the townships
ungovernable and was characterized by civil disobedience, noncompliance, nonpayment of rent
and violence. It reduced the state to exercising repressive violence and ultimately to the delegitimizing the government. These features were necessary in the struggle to end apartheid but not conducive to building a culture of civic obligation, responsibility and democratic behavior.
South Africa does have the advantage of having a history of civil organizations that many
emerging democracies do not. The struggle against apartheid and the resulting growth of
organizations were essential to the emergence of civil society as it appears today. However, the
dynamics of the struggle necessitated resistance, secrecy and violence, it often resulted in
organizations with inadequate governance structures, a lack of accountability and a reluctance to
co-operate and share information. While these organizations were critical to the eventual demise of apartheid, the dynamics of secrecy, conflict and violence of these organizations also created difficult challenges for the transition and development of organizations in the post apartheid era.
Many civic organizations once focused on protest and civil disobedience had difficulty in
defining a role in relation to new South Africa. Also many of the leaders of the civic organizations left their communities to assume posts in the public and private sector.
The loss of leadership, mission and international funding in the NGO sector in the years
immediately after 1994 further weakened South Africa’s civil society. Much of the international
funding that supported the NGOs during the struggles, voter education and elections diminished once there was a democratically elected government.
The role played by the civil society had diminished significantly since democratic change and that the lack of capacity in the civil society organizations could potentially threaten the success of democratic consolidation. While there is a vocal embrace of democracy there is also confusion when it comes to people’s responsibility and experience with the institutions of direct democracy. I believe that unrealized hopes of participatory democracy have led to growing cynicism and political demobilization which pose long term dangers to the
rooting of democracy in South Africa
Mpho Putu, Director of Boundary Crossing Leadership Foundation
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