Citation

Mosoetsa S. J. South Afr. Stud. 2005; 31(4): 857-873.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/03057070500370779

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article is concerned with organisational responses of residents in Mpumalanga Township, located in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The central argument of the article is that there is a slow and fragile process of consolidating democracy emerging in the township. It is argued that the potential of democratic consolidation is being undermined by the social, economic and historical realities of the township. Four themes are discussed in the article: the crisis of representation and decline of old organisations; the fragile stability of families and kinship networks; the process of facing up to faultlines and the new face of community organisations; and consolidating democracy out of conflict. Firstly, this article explores the tenuous process of rebuilding community-level trust and collective action in the wake of political transition. The general lack of trust in politicians and popular representatives in the contemporary period has meant that people are retreating into families and kinship networks, a response reinforced by poverty. Second, the family is seen as a site of stability, but this is only realisable if the institution is supported by government policy. State transfers, such as pensions and child maintenance grants, are critical to relieving the enormous pressures and demands made upon the household. However, with the enormous burden placed on family networks and unequal power relations within households, the stability of family networks is seriously undermined. A crisis of reproduction surfaces as incidences of alcohol and drug abuse and domestic violence become a common feature of most households. Third, the link between household survival and urban services has also given rise to popular responses through newly formed community organisations. Finally, the consolidation of democracy is emerging out of conflicts between community residents and the local government around issues of service delivery and political accountability.