A Shrinking Space for Civil Society in South Africa?

Research Project 2021 – 2023

Centre for Civil Society – University of KwaZulu-Natal

Funder: National Research Foundation

Ethical Clearance: HSSREC/00003390/2021 – University of KwaZulu-Natal

Researchers: Prof Shauna Mottiar, Dr Vuyiseka Dubula, Dr Danford Chibvongodze

Purpose of the Study

Civil society is closely linked with the liberal notion of deepening democracy in that it gives voice to diverse interests and serves as a watchdog over the state. In more radical interpretations however it is seen as contested terrain, serving dominant interests but also as a potential site from which to contest these interests to effect social justice.

A number of international studies have noted a ‘shrinking space’ for civil society (Anheier et al, 2018). This has been attributed to curtailing civil society organisation activities, increased regulation, repression and restrictions owing to increased and complicated reporting requirements (Civicus 2018; ICNL 2018; USAID 2017). South African studies have echoed this trend noting threats of closer regulation, findings of pre-emptive repression of protest (Duncan, 2016), intimidation of activists and the framing of social movements and some NGOs as ‘counter revolutionary’ (Sali, 2016).

This study seeks to examine whether civil society in South Africa is experiencing a ‘shrinking space’. This is relevant because the post-apartheid era has shown how critical civil society is in raising the voices of the marginalised e.g. through the social movements of the 2000s and holding the state to account e.g. through mobilisations against state capture. This study will form a starting point to assess whether civil society in South Africa is in danger and what steps should be taken to safeguard it.

The aim of this study is to produce research that will add to the existing literature on civil society in South Africa but also ascertain whether civil society is facing difficulties that may hinder / reverse democratic consolidation and challenge social justice campaigns

24 February 2022, Cape Town

Participants included civil society activists from the Treatment Action Campaign, The Right2Know Campaign, Black Sash, Section 27, the Social Justice Coalition, The Land Access Movement, Sonke Gender Justice and Equal Education.

The discussion examined the various strengths of civil society in South Africa but also civil society challenges and the prospect of ‘building power’ from civil society.

The discussion we want to have will be the starting point of setting up a network for critical reflection and sustained, linked action:

• Civil society is strong in pockets and spaces and weak in others.
• There are ‘moments’ of action and impact but these are not sustained nor are they linked.
• If these moments can be linked and sustained civil society could potentially form another pole of power in SA.
• How can we link movements / organizations / actions / resources?
• How can we work towards sustained actions / access to resources / access to policymakers?
• An idea is to form a civil society network that comes together once a year …
• The network would also be operative in between these annual meetings however (we have to think about how to do this).
• The network would work to examine contexts, tactics, engagement with the state and mandates from the grass root base, also, what stands in the way of genuine solidarity in our spaces?

Civil Society Dialogue

24 February 2022

Cape Town

Theme: ‘How to Build a Capable Civil Society’

Participants (in-person):

Zanele Modise National Organiser Equal Education

Axolile Notywala Former Director Social Justice Coalition and now Movement for Care

Bonga Zamisa Organiser Social Justice Coalition

Bafana Khumalo Director Sonke Gender Justice

Hoodah Abrahams National Advocacy Manager Black Sash

Thami Nkosi Advocacy Organiser R2K Campaign

Mangwedi Maredi Chairperson Land Access Movement of South Africa

Anele Yawa General Secretary Treatment Action Campaign

Solly Milambo Senior Community Mobiliser Section27

Vuyiseka Dubula CCS

Danford Chibvongodze CCS

Mark Heywood Daily Maverick

Shauna Mottiar CCS

Simo Dlamini CCS 

Why this Dialogue is Necessary

Various reasons for the relevance of this dialogue were aired:

• Building civil society / building power.
• Envisaging / re-imagining another / a better solution / vision / world.
• Facilitating a capable civil society.
• Self-reflecting – is civil society replicating the bad behaviour of the state / ruling party / politicians, is it taking agency away from the people?
• Is it (civil society) stuck?
• Considering objectives – across grass roots and ‘blue chip’ CSOs.
• Reflecting on funder politics. 

CS Challenges

• We are winning battles but losing the war.
• We need to build power and develop capabilities – time is running out.
• The rise of a reactionary and right-wing civil society is very real e.g. Operation Dudula in SA, The anti-vax movement internationally…
• Funder politics: we need to think about different ways of funding and change our relationships with donors.
• Have we really transformed internally?
• Do we move out of our echo chambers to genuinely root in communities?
• Do we have a theory of change?
• Let’s avoid another false start!

CS Strengths

• We are good at making a noise – highlighting the problems but we have no alternative vison – we need a utopian vison.
• We have access, skills and the law – how are we using our power though?

 Way Forward

Focus

A number of ideas emerged with regards a future focus for dialogue and for civil society:

• Forging a united democratic front – an inclusive co-ordinated platform.
• Movement building and popular education.
• Reform v revolution, capitalism cannot meet the demands of the poor – weave this into strategies to show up system weakness.
• Re-imagine tactics e.g. use data to make indisputable arguments.
• Auto-critique solidarity – among campaigns, within the region and internationally.
• Intersectionality – e.g. making climate justice relevant across and within struggles.
• Language, is the language that we use relevant, how do we communicate in a way that resonates and also inspires

Gaps

Who is missing from this dialogue space – to facilitate inclusivity and a broad base we need to also link with movements for LGBT rights, disability rights, the climate justice, student and feminist movements. As well as those cultural movements that are integral to transforming and conscientising processes e.g. artists, musicians, playwrights and poets.

Principles of Engagement

The way in which we take this initiative forward must consider the space we use, the language we apply and the funding we accept.

Next Steps

The organising team will now advise on:

• A concept note for the ‘dialogue’ (terminology to be advised).
• A method of linking with participants for a civil society ‘front’ (terminology to be advised).
• The next event / action.
• Ideas for how to fund the next event / action.