By Reneva Fourie
SOUTH Africa’s national democratic revolution (NDR) emerged as a beacon of hope, designed to dismantle the intertwined systems of apartheid colonialism and patriarchy while striving for social and economic justice.
At the time, the revolution was about the people: workers, peasants, the unemployed, and the disenfranchised who rose in the name of freedom and equality. The momentous democratic transition thirty years ago ignited aspirations among the oppressed, signalling a promise of radical transformation – a chance for dignity and prosperity. Yet, as the initial euphoria of self-governance gave way to a more subdued reality, it is evident that many of the visionary goals of liberation remain unrealised.
Significant strides have been made since the dawn of democracy in 1994. However, the harsh reality is that the aspirations of the majority of South Africans have not been fulfilled. The ruling elite, preoccupied with palace politics, has often strayed from the revolutionary ideals that once united all South Africans. On November 24, a significant dialogue occurred between two key players in the NDR: the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Their discussion aimed to re-establish the core principles of these ideals and collaborate to implement the commitments made in the jointly developed May 2024 election manifesto.
The alliance between the ANC, SACP, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, and later the South African National Civic Organisation was forged in the fires of the struggle against apartheid colonialism. The ANC, often described as a ‘broad church’, allowed various ideological perspectives to vie for influence within its ranks. Before 1994, the leftist elements, led by the SACP, enjoyed strategic leadership positions and significantly shaped ANC policy direction.
However, in the wake of South Africa’s democratic breakthrough, the celebration of newfound freedoms was overshadowed by the ongoing influence of class adversaries unwilling to yield their control over the country’s economy. The structures of inequality remained intact, and the promise of radical change and the dismantling of the old order was replaced with a new form of elitism. The poor, who fought for a better future, were left to witness the redistribution of power and wealth among a new class of elites who speak the language of revolution but act in ways that serve their interests.
From 1994 to 1996, South Africa was governed by a national unity government, during which a non-ANC minister headed the finance ministry. This period saw the introduction of a self-imposed structural adjustment programme. The Growth, Employment, and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy signified the onset of significant fractures within the alliance. Furthermore, the global socio-political and economic landscape underwent dramatic changes following the collapse of the USSR and the subsequent transformations in Eastern Europe.
Euro-Atlantic forces firmly established neoliberal ideologies worldwide, including in South Africa. Capitalists and imperialists adeptly positioned themselves within the country’s economic and fiscal policy frameworks, aligning public resources and network industries to serve their interests. They enforced neoliberal policies and austerity measures that disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations.
In this environment, the NDR faced significant obstacles that thwarted its goal of the equitable distribution of wealth and resources. Despite efforts to address issues of underdevelopment, the state could not meet the aspirations of its citizens at the necessary pace. Increasing poverty, unemployment, and inequality contributed to diminishing faith in the liberation movement.
Though the SACP proposed viable solutions to pressing national challenges, including the underperformance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), its recommendations were consistently sidelined. As the SACP’s influence over ANC policy steadily diminished, the influence of capital over fiscal and economic policy grew, further tilting the balance of power against the NDR. Previously united under the banner of ‘a better life for all’, the former steadfast partnership disintegrated, often manifesting in public disputes over how to distribute power and resources critical to improving the lives of the impoverished communities.
Tensions reached an all-time high when the ANC entered into a governing alliance with the Democratic Alliance (DA), which the SACP and COSATU, in particular, regard as adversaries of the NDR. Due to the ANC’s foreign policy positions, especially on Palestine and neutrality on Ukraine, big business had invested heavily in opposition parties and media narratives to unseat it in the May 2024 election. Financial contributions to the electoral coffers of the DA and its allies far outweighed those of rival parties.
Despite these efforts, the ANC maintained control but secured only 40 per cent of the vote, necessitating partnerships with other parties to govern effectively. While pragmatic, the decision to enter into a coalition raised questions about the ANC’s commitment to its revolutionary roots. The SACP preferred a minority government to uphold progressive values. However, their influence could not sway the ANC, resulting in further public spats.
The recent dialogue between the ANC and the SACP represents a promising step towards a collective strategy to manage diverging ideologies in the GNU and prioritise the needs of the working class and the poor. The democratic transition may have shaken the foundations of the old order but has failed to dismantle the underlying power structures that perpetuate inequality. The MK Party’s growing popularity among the poor necessitates a renewed focus on equitable resource distribution to reinstate faith in the liberation movement.
Pivotal in this regard is regaining lost ground towards the 2026 Local Government Election. The SACP, in its forthcoming December Special National Congress, will have to reflect on whether it would be best to reconfigure the alliance in a manner that permits it to contest elections in its name or whether it will continue to contest under the banner of the ANC. The unfinished business of the NDR calls for unwavering courage and bold action that will genuinely dismantle the structures of privilege and power rather than reshuffling them. This is the only means to advance the historical promise of shared prosperity.
Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development and security.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.