10 Years of Democracy
A Critical Appraisal of South Africa's Transition
Civil Society Conference 26 - 28 November 2004

In the era of the Reconstruction and Development Programme, the task of the
mass movement seemed clear, that is, to influence the democratic transition
by deepening the process of democracy, ensure the provision of basic
services, to defend and extend public property, and to intensify the
mobilisation of mass movements.

A balance sheet of the last 10 years seems to suggest that initiative has
been lost. Rather than the popular movement being able to assert its
influence over the transition, domestic and foreign investors,
corporations - in short, the elite - have been able to secure economic and
social policies that gave them the opportunity to dominate the transition
and entrench their own interests.

However, an obvious conclusion of even a cursory evaluation of 10 years of
democracy clearly shows that there are continuous struggles taking place,
albeit under new circumstances and conditions.

But just what are these circumstances and conditions? The 10 Years of
Democracy Conference seeks to assess some of the following scenarios:

· How do we understand the balance of forces in South Africa today and what
social forces are driving the social transformation?
· What is the nature and role of the South African state, nationally,
regionally and globally?
· Can we talk of a developmental state? Just what is meant by a national
democratic state in a context where capitalist interests are being
consolidated?
· How has South Africa been integrated into the global system, post-
apartheid, and what role does the state play in the major international
institutions driving neo-liberal globalisation?
· What has been achieved in overcoming the legacy of underdevelopment and
racial inequality in terms of providing the mass of people with access to
basic and decent levels of services in the area of land, housing, education,
health and welfare?
· What is the state, the nature and role of popular movement and other
organs of civil society and how have they evolved and responded to the
challenges of the transition over the last decade?
· Most importantly, what alternatives and strategies can and should be
developed to secure the fundamental transformation of South Africa in line
with the aspirations of the struggle for national liberation?

Nature of the conference

The conference, in the spirit of the World Social Forum and its methodology
of openness, plurality and respect for a diversity of views within popular
movements of civil society, will create a space where activists, progressive
social theorists and academics can discuss the successes, failures,
strengths and weaknesses of the transition from apartheid. The conference
will represent one of the voices of civil society that is celebrating and
critically evaluating the new period our country has entered since the end
of apartheid.

The conference will examine the following themes:

State and Politics: Here, focus will be on the transformation of the body
politic, including the economy, the nature and role of the post-apartheid
state and South Africa's integration into the global economy.
Delivery of Services: Simultaneous and parallel discussion commissions will
focus on the state of service delivery in areas of education, health,
housing, land, water, electricity and welfare.
State of civil society: Focus will lay on the role of the labor movement,
popular organisations, social movements and other social forces that sought
to influence the transition.

Objectives of the conference

· To use the occasion of the celebration of 10 years of democracy in post-
apartheid South Africa to facilitate a discussion amongst activists of the
popular movement around the progress made in building democracy,
redistributing wealth, overcoming racial inequalities and divisions, and
eradicating poverty. Such a discussion will not only highlight the
achievements of the past ten years, but will also analyse the blockages and
challenges that lie ahead. It is hoped that these discussions and debates
will provide a platform upon which activists will be able to determine
strategies for achieving social transformation and justice.
· Critically examine the challenges confronting civil society, 10 years into
building the new South Africa. These challenges are defined by both the
unfinished business of dealing with the legacy of apartheid, engagement with
the policies of the current government as well as the state of civil
society.
· Discussing strategies for the struggle ahead over the next 10 years that
can deepen democracy, ensure development, social transformation and economic
justice.

Audience

The conference is aimed at 120 participants who will be drawn from the broad
progressive movement in South Africa. Leaders of trade unions, social
movements, popular organisations and NGO's will be invited. While the
majority will be drawn from the Western Cape where the conference will be
held, travel subsidies will be offered to activists coming from other parts
of the country. A special emphasis will be placed on ensuring the
participants of women activists and conference subsidies will be weighted in
favor of women.

For registration forms or for further details please contact Simphiwe Dada
at [email protected] or telephone 012 447 5770.