Back القمع السياسي في جنوب أفريقيا في فترة ما بعد الفصل العنصري Arabic Represión política en la Sudáfrica post-apartheid Spanish

Political repression in post-apartheid South Africa

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The Constitution of South Africa protects all basic political freedoms. However, there have been many incidents of political repression,[1] dating back to at least 2002,[2] as well as threats of future repression in violation of this constitution leading some analysts, civil society organisations and popular movements to conclude that there is a new climate of political repression[3][4][5] or a decline in political tolerance.[6]

It has been argued that repression peaked during the period of the Jacob Zuma presidency, with some analysts linking the increase in repression to the influence of the 'security cluster' under the Jacob Zuma presidency.[7][8] It has been argued that Zuma "enhanced the coercive capacity of the state"[9] and that he focused on "building a state based on fear".[10] It has also been argued that repression has affected poor people's organisations most seriously but that repression directed against poor people has been systemically under-reported in the media.[11]

Serious concern has been expressed about police brutality in South Africa.[12][13] Sipho Hlongwane, writing in Business Day, has argued that "South Africa is a brutal police state."[14] According to Greg Marinovich "The police are acting with impunity. Their political masters are acting with impunity. In the South Africa of 2012, if you are poor and without political clout, you are on your own."[15] Amnesty International has expressed serious concerns about brutality, including torture and extrajudicial killings, at the hands of the police in South Africa.[16][17] Ronnie Kasrils has argued that there has been a "descent into police state depravity" under Jacob Zuma.[18] It has been observed that "Torture is routine practice in South Africa's police stations and prisons".[19]

The country also has a serious problem with political assassinations.[20]

It has been claimed that senior ANC politicians are responsible for the repression of grassroots activists.[21] In 2012 Bishop Rubin Phillip said that "a dark night is settling over our country as the light of our democratic dawn dims".[22]

  1. ^ ‘The Politic of Blood’: Political Repression in South Africa, Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, Dossier 31, August 2020
  2. ^ Housing battles in post-Apartheid South Africa: The Case of Mandela Park, Khayelitsha Archived 24 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, by Martin Legassick, South African Labour Bulletin, 2003
  3. ^ The Return of State Repression Archived 24 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Professor J. Duncan, South African Civil Society Information Services, 31 May 2010
  4. ^ Increasing police repression highlighted by recent cases[usurped], Freedom of Expression Institute, 2006
  5. ^ Activists decry talk of 'third force' at Marikana, by Niren Tolsi, Mail & Guardian, 2012
  6. ^ Political tolerance on the wane in South Africa, Imraan Buccus, SA Reconciliation Barometer, 2011
  7. ^ Jane Duncan on the ever-increasing power of SA's security cabal Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Mandy de Waal, The Daily Maverick, 16 June 2011
  8. ^ Zuma: Why we're not laughing any more, Hennie van Vuuren, Mail & Guardian, 17 August 2012
  9. ^ The 'Gatvol' Factor Archived 19 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Jane Duncan, SACSIS, January 2011
  10. ^ Electing for lesser evil will not get us very far, Palessa Morudu, Business Day, 11 September 2012
  11. ^ Media underplaying police, state brutality, Jane Duncan, Sunday Independent, 26 August 2012
  12. ^ No end in sight for police brutality in South Africa, Justice Malala, The Guardian, 21 February 2013
  13. ^ The lang-arm of the law is a deadly dance, Jane Duncan, Mail & Guardian, 8 August 2013
  14. ^ This brutal police state in which we live, Sipho Hlongwane, Business Day, 22 January 2013
  15. ^ Marikana: A cover-up for all to see, Greg Marinovich, Daily Maverick, 6 November 2012
  16. ^ Police brutality comes as a surprise? Really?, Pierre de Vos, Daily Maverick, 1 March 2012
  17. ^ Amnesty International South Africa Report, 2012
  18. ^ Mr President, arrest this descent into police state depravity, Ronnie Kasrils, Mail & Guardian, 6 March 2013
  19. ^ [1], Fish rot from the head, Carolyne Raphaely, Open Democracy, 20 March 2014
  20. ^ The Business of Killing: Assassinations in South Africa, Rumbi Matamba, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, April 2023, Geneva
  21. ^ Protestors Are Killed On Instructions Of Politicians In KZN And Society Turns A Blind Eye – Inquiry, Marc Davis, The Huffington Post, 2017
  22. ^ Biko: A bright guiding light in dark times, Bishop Rubin Phillip, 19 September 2012

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