Political Repression in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Encyclopedia
South Africa
has a liberal constitution that protects all basic political freedoms. However there have been a number of incidents of political repression as well as threats of future repression in violation of this constitution leading some analysts and civil society
organisations to conclude that there is or could be a new climate of political repression or a decline in political tolerance. Some have linked this to an increase in the influence of the 'security cluster' under the Jacob Zuma
presidency.
which, if passed, would significantly reduce press freedom.
There have been a number of reports of serious intimidation of journalists In Port Elizabeth the chairperson of the ruling African National Congress
, Nceba Faku, has called for party supporters to burn down the offices of the local newspaper the Daily Dispatch.
in 2006.
, in 2011.
have been subject to political violence.
since 2000. The ICD has reported a rise in police violence against protesters since 2010. The following list is not complete:
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 a liberal constitution that protects all basic political freedoms. However there have been a number of incidents of political repression as well as threats of future repression in violation of this constitution leading some analysts and civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
organisations to conclude that there is or could be a new climate of political repression or a decline in political tolerance. Some have linked this to an increase in the influence of the 'security cluster' under the 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....
presidency.
Threats to Media Freedom
Serious concern has been expressed about the proposed Protection of Information BillProtection of Information Bill
The South African Protection of State Information Bill, formerly named the Protection of Information Bill and commonly referred to as the Secrecy Bill, is a highly controversial piece of proposed legislation which aims to regulate the classification, protection and dissemination of state...
which, if passed, would significantly reduce press freedom.
There have been a number of reports of serious intimidation of journalists In Port Elizabeth the chairperson of the ruling African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
, Nceba Faku, has called for party supporters to burn down the offices of the local newspaper the Daily Dispatch.
Unlawful State Bans on Protests
There have been a number of independently documented cases where the constitutionally protected right to protest has not been honoured by the state. One particularly well documented instance occurred in DurbanDurban
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...
in 2006.
Torture of Activists
There has been general concern about police torture in South Africa and organisations such as the Landless People's Movement have documented cases in which activists and protesters have been tortured. There were media reports of police torture of activists in Wessleton, ErmeloErmelo, 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...
, in 2011.
Political Violence Against Activists
Organisations such as the Landless People's Movement and Abahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali 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...
have been subject to political violence.
Death Threats Against Activists
There have been reports of death threats against activists in Ermelo (2011), in eTwatwa on the East Rand (2010), and in Durban (2009).People killed by the police during protests
A number of unarmed protesters have been killed by the South African Police ServiceSouth African Police Service
The South African Police Service is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1116 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province...
since 2000. The ICD has reported a rise in police violence against protesters since 2010. The following list is not complete:
- 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 and 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), 2011 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...
- Andries Tatane (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
Further Reading
- Arresting Dissent:State Repression and Post-Apartheid Social Movements, Dale McKinley & Ahmed Veriava, Centre for the Study of Violence & Reconciliation, 2005
- Amandla! Protest in the New South Africa, Simon Delaney, Freedom of Expression Institute, May 2007
- Independent Report into Political Violence Against the Landless People's Movement, Jared Sacks, International Alliance of Inhabitants, 2010
- Political tolerance on the wane in South Africa, Imraan Buccus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA Reconciliation Barometer, 2011
- The Work of violence:a timeline of armed attacks at Kennedy Road, Kerry Chance School of Development Studies Research Report, 83, University of Chicago, July 2010.
- Police brutality and service delivery protests, by Mphutlane wa Bofelo, Pambazuka News, 21 April 2011
- Dissent Under Thabo Mbeki, Jane Duncan, May 2011, Professor Jane Duncan, Rhodes University, May 2011
- State Violence, Richard Pitthouse, SACSIS, May 2011
- Amnesty International South Africa Report 2011
- ICD: Rise in police abuse at service delivery protests, EMSIE FERREIRA, Mail & Guardian, 14 June 2011
- ANC ratchets up its anti-media campaign in provinces, Mandy de Waal, The Daily Maverick, 6 July 2011
- If They Come for You, Who Will Speak Out?, by Jane Duncan, 7 July 2011