Abstract
M.A.
This study investigates the role of civil society in sustaining democracy in South
Africa. Civic associations as representatives of civil society have contributed
significantly to the creation of an alternative system of community development
that was in strict opposition to the apartheid system. This study explores the role
of the Soweto Civic Association in sustaining democracy by investigating the
following questions:
How the Soweto Civic Association provided in the expectations of
democracy and of independence before 1994.
How the Soweto Civic Association and SANCO see their role in the
post-apartheid South Africa.
The case study approach was used and the unit of analysis was members of the
Soweto Civic Association. The Soweto Civic Association operated before the
1994 elections to transform the apartheid government and to replace it with a
democratically elected government. This civic organization became a centre of
opposition not only against township councils but also against all aspects of
apartheid. Civic associations argued that key civic issues could not be resolved
without national changes in the distribution of economic resources and access to
political power itself. This resulted in the civics shifting from fulfilling the
expectations of independence to expectations of democracy, arguing that only in
a democratic context could the expectations of independence be achieved. Civics have argued that their role as community organizations could only be
enhanced and fulfilled once an elected government was in place. However, new
challenges brought by the democratization process of South African society have
posed serious challenges to civic associations. After the 1994 elections, the
Soweto Civic Association ceased to function as the Soweto Civic Association.
This was because it adopted the constitution of the South African National Civic
organization (SANCO) to become the SANCO-Soweto branch. The post-election
relationship between SANCO and the ANC has deteriorated. SANCO, before the
1994 elections was allowed to play a leading role in local politics, but after the
election the ANC took the lead and pushed SANCO to a minor position. The
civics' space to perform in the post-apartheid South Africa has diminished
because of the decline of SANCO after the 1994 elections. The deterioration of SANCO after the1994 elections was caused by the belief
from the ANC that civics had to continue to be loyal to the ANC as they have
done in the past by supporting the ANC before the 1994 general election.
Conversely after the 1994 elections SANCO wanted its relationship with the
alliance consisting of the ANC, SACP, and COSATU to be clearly defined.
SANCO further warned that it must not be regarded as a minor or junior player
within the alliance. The leadership of SANCO further asserted that SANCO will
remain a government watchdog although it will endeavor to strengthen the
alliance. It is recommended that the ANC-led government must involve civic
organisations in key decisions around housing, the government led Masakhane
campaign and payments of rents and service charges. The study also proposes that
SANCO as an umbrella body of civic associations must strive to provide a
national framework and direction to all its affiliates and change its strategy to
become a community organisation against the state or a government watchdog
rather than becoming a government ally which will result in their marginalization
by the state.