Keyword: basic services

Service Delivery in South Africa: Putting the Poo-Cart Before the Horse

Picture: Abahlali baseMjondolo Cameron Brisbane - One of the ANC’s 2014 election slogans proudly boasts “A better life for all.”  Its claim is supported by a series of service delivery achievements such as the building of three million (a contested figure) subsidised homes. The feel-good factor of these claims belies the reality that many communities are tired of empty promises, and the frequency of service delivery protests that has reached unprecedented proportions bears testament to the ”gatvol” factor....

What the State's Response to the Anger of Protesting Communities Is Not Telling Us

Picture: BBC World Service Ibrahim Steyn - As many poor working class communities continue to protest against the post-apartheid state’s failure to meet their material expectation of democracy, the only real difference between Mbeki and Zuma’s responses to the protesting voices is that whereas the former has been callous the latter seems more sympathetic. The fact that Mbeki hardly commiserated with protesting communities during his tenure and obstinately denied that South Africa was experiencing a so-called "service...