South Africa: The Popular Movement in the Flux and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)

Marais, Hein

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Title:	South Africa: The Popular Movement in the Flux and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)
Author:	Marais, Hein
Year:	1996
Periodical:	Africa Development: A Quarterly Journal of CODESRIA (ISSN 0850-3907)
Volume:	21
Issue:	2-3
Pages:	211-233
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	development trade unions national plans Politics and Government Economics and Trade Development and Technology
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/43657669
Abstract:	Due to several factors popular movements in postapartheid South Africa are prey to a mood of disorientation and their representativeness is called into question. Thus the basis for a people-driven transformation process of the country is much flimsier than commonly assumed. If the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) adopted by the government, which originates in initiatives within the popular movement and which aims at redressing the poverty of apartheid, restructuring the economy and democratizing the State, is to be people-driven, effective community involvement must be ensured. However, COSATU, the largest trade union federation in South Africa, which played an important role in conceptualizing the RDP, is at the moment confronting a number of challenges. Its political alliance with the ANC and the SACP (South Africa Communist Party) is under increasing strain as COSATU seeks to defend its independence from a political ally that is now dominant in a highly compromised government of national unity. While committed to defending the democratization and development process, COSATU is also saddled with the role of defending the interests of the working class. However, new economic conditions have led to intense stratification within the working class and this necessitates the adoption of a style of organization that distinguishes between different classes of workers with different interests. Bibliogr., notes.