B. Maharaj, URBAN STRUGGLES AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE APARTHEID LOCAL STATE -THE CASE OF COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS IN DURBAN, Political geography, 15(1), 1996, pp. 61-74
Although the global focus on South Africa has been at the national lev
el, the struggle for the transformation towards a post-apartheid socie
ty is being played out largely at the local level. In fact it has been
pressure for change at the local level from civic, community, ratepay
ers and residents' associations that has significantly informed nation
al events. This paper examines the role of civic and community struggl
es in influencing the transformation of the local state in Durban from
the early 1980s to the present time. The Durban Housing Action Commit
tee resisted rent increases for low-income groups and opposed eviction
s, while the Campaign for a Democratic City initiated demands for a no
n-racial democratic city. These grassroots initiatives forced the loca
l state to negotiate with the civic and community organizations. This
paper also addresses the neglected question of the impact of social mo
vements on local state transformation. It suggests that civic organiza
tions represent powerful agents for socio-spatial transformation.