MODULE 5: The ANC-Alliance and the ‘management’ of South Africa’s transitional contradictions: a crisis of democracy and development?

READINGS:

  1. Thabo Mbeki (2003), ‘Letter from the President: Bold Steps to end the “two nations” divide’, ANC Today, Vol. 3, No. 33 (22-28 August)
  2. Zwelinzima Vavi (2006), ‘The role of Government in Creating an Environment for Economic Growth and Private Sector Development’, Address to the Annual General Meeting of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry South Africa (11 May)
  3. Dale T. McKinley (2006), ‘South Africa’s Third Local Government Elections and the Institutionalisation of “Low-Intensity” Neo-Liberal Democracy”, in Jeanette Minnie (ed.), Outside the Ballot Box: Preconditions for Elections in Southern Africa 2005/6 (Johannesburg: Media Institute of Southern Africa)
  4. Raymond Suttner (2006), ‘African National Congress (ANC) as dominant organisation: impact of the attainment of power and phases of post liberation development and crisis’, Draft Paper
  5. Dale T. McKinley (2003), ‘The Congress of South African Trade Unions and the Tripartite Alliance since 1994’ in Tom Bramble and Franco Barchiesi (eds.), Rethinking the Labour Movement in the ‘New’ South Africa (Aldershot, U.K.: Ashgate Publishers)

KEY QUESTIONS:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with Mbeki’s arguments about how to address what he calls South Africa’s ‘two-nations’ divide? Present arguments for your position.
  2. In your opinion, why have an increasingly large number of citizens chosen not to participate in elections and what does this say about the ‘democratic mandate’ of the ANC?
  3. What does Zuma’s rape trial tell us about the man himself as well as the state of gender politics in within the ANC Alliance?
  4. Do you think that COSATU’s alliance with the ANC has been beneficial for the unionised working class? Explain your answer.
Next Module