Since 2004, South Africa has experienced a movement of local protests amounting to a rebellion of the poor. This has been widespread and intense, reaching insurrectionary proportions in some cases. On the surface, the protests have been about service delivery and against uncaring, self-serving, and corrupt leaders of municipalities. A key feature has been mass participation by a new generation of fighters, especially unemployed youth but also school students. Many issues that underpinned the ascendency of Jacob Zuma also fuel the present action, including a sense of injustice arising from the realities of persistent inequality. While the inter-connections between the local protests, and between the local protests and militant action involving other elements of civil society, are limited, it is suggested that this is likely to change. The analysis presented here draws on rapid-response research conducted by the author and his colleagues in five of the so-called ‘hot spots’.
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Further reading on popular protest in South Africa
- We are the Third Force, by S'bu Zikode, 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 Friedman, 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
- 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