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Black Student Politics, Higher Education, and Apartheid: from SASO to SANSCO, 1968-1990

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Black Student Politics, Higher Education, and Apartheid: from SASO to SANSCO, 1968-1990 DOCUMENT RESUME ED 440 609 HE 032 839 AUTHOR Badat, M. Saleem TITLE Black Student Politics, Higher Education, and Apartheid: From SASO to SANSCO, 1968-1990. INSTITUTION Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria (South Africa). ISBN ISBN-0-7969-1896-1 PUB DATE 1999-00-00 NOTE 407p. AVAILABLE FROM Human Sciences Research Council, Publishers, Private Bag X41, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. PUB TYPE Books (010) Opinion Papers (120) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC17 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Activism; *Apartheid; *Black Students; Civil Disobedience; Civil Rights; De Jure Segregation; Empowerment; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Political Issues; *Political Power; Racial Segregation; Revolution; *Social Action; *Student Organizations; Student Rights; Student Subcultures IDENTIFIERS *South Africa ABSTRACT This book examines student politics in South Africa during the period 1968 to 1990, and specifically at two black higher education organizations: the South African National Students' Congress (SANSCO) and the South African Students' Organization (SASO), focusing on their ideological and political orientations, internal organizational structure, intellectual, political, and social determinants, and their contributions to the struggle against apartheid. The book's essential argument is that both were revolutionary national student political organizations that operated as organized social forces within the national liberation movement, that they functioned as catalysts of collective action, and contributed to the erosion of the apartheid social order. The book finds that black students were not just victims of apartheid but were also thinkers, conscious actors, and historical agents in the face of an authoritarian political order. Chapter 1, an introduction, examines the character, role, and significance of the two organizations. Chapters 2-5 examine SASO's role from 1960 to 1976-77; and chapters 6-10 examine SANSCO's activities from 1976-77 to 1990. Appended are the SASO policy manifesto and a SANSCO constitution and policy document. (Contains approximately 350 references.) (CH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 0 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND Office of Educational Research and Improvement DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) 11 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization _fLi4,_5TUrn P_F ongmahngit Minor changes have been made to Improve reproduction quality TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy fr-orn-S 0 to SANSCO 1968 -1990 BLACK STUDENT POLITICS, HIGHER EDUCATION AND APARTHEID FROM SASO TO SANSCOI 1968-1990 3 The ERIC Facility has assigned this document for processing to: In our judgment, this document is also of interest to the Clear- inghouses noted to the right. Indexing should reflect their special points of view. BLACK STUDENT POLITICS, HIGHER EDUCATION AND APARTHEID FROM SASO TOSANSCOI1968-1990 M. SALEEM BADAT Human Sciences Research Council Pretoria 1999 4 © Human Sciences Research Council, 1999 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 0-7969-1896-1 HSRC Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Badat M. Saleem Black student politics, higher education and apartheid : from SASO to SANSCO, 1968-1999 / M. Saleem Badat.-1999. 402p. 115 x 210 mm Bibliography references ISBN 0-7969-7969-1896-1 Cover design: Glenn Basson Layout and design: Susan Smith Published by: HSRC Publishers Private Bag X41 Pretoria 0001 For *Teen, Hussein alio Faizat anb in memoryof Harold Wolpe: mentor/ colleague/ comrade anbfriena Preface In both scholarly and popular literature, black students in South Africa have tended to be treated in two ways. In accounts of educational conditions they have frequently been characterised simply as victims of apartheid. In writings on political opposition to apartheid, although their campaigns and activities, and their roles as catalysts and detonators of educational and political struggles have been noted frequently, these have seldom been analysed. Few scholars have shown an interest in analysing either the remarkable continuity of student activism and militancy over almost two decades, or the historical development, ideological and political character, role, contribution and significance of the organisations to which black students belonged. The book aims to rectify this dearth of analysis by examining two black higher education organisations that span the period 1968 to 1990. One is the South African National Students' Congress (SANSCO), which was previously called the Azanian Students' Organisation (AZASO). The other is the South African Students' Organisation (SASO), popularly associated with the person of Steve Biko and Black Consciousness. I analyse the ideological and political orientations and internal organisa- tional features of SASO and SANSCO and their intellectual, political and social determinants. I also analyse their role in the educational, political and other spheres and the factors that shaped their activities. Finally, I assess their salient contributions to the popular struggle against apartheid education and race, class and gender oppression and the extent to which and ways their activities reproduced and/or undermined and/or transformed apartheid and capitalist social relations, institutions and practices. To these ends I draw on recent social movement theory and the international literature on student politics. I also emphasise the need to 7 analyse SASO and SANSCO in relation tothedistincthistorical conditions under which they operated, andargue that the character and significance of either organisation cannot be read simply froman examination of their ideological and political dispositions and membership. An analysis of their practices and effecton the terrain in which they moved is also required. My essential argument is that SASO and SANSCOwere revolu- tionary national student political organisations that constituted black students as an organised social force within the national liberation movement, functioned as catalysts of collective action and schools of political formation, and contributed to the erosion of the apartheid social order, as well as to social transformation in South Africa. Black students were not just victims of apartheid but were also thinkers, conscious actors and historical agents. In the face ofan authoritarian political order and intense repression, they displayed bravery and an indomitable spirit of courage and defiance, activated anti-apartheid opposition, and contributed immensely to the struggle for national liberation and transformation of education. Ackno w[eogements It is a pleasure to acknowledge gratefullyall those who made this book possible. My partner, Shireen, and my two boys, Husseinand Faizal, have over many years borne with tremendous patiencethe demands made by research and writing on my time and energy.I am immensely thankful for the sacrifices they have made, theirdeep loyalty and their love. Dr Anne Akeroyd provided invaluablesupport and guidance during my stays in York, England. At different points,I also received helpful comments from Elaine Unterhalter,Harold Wolpe and Philip Altbach. I am especially indebted to Harold Wolpefor his pivotal contribution to my intellectual development and for my commitmentto critical scholarship. My close friends Yusuf, Sigamoneyand Cathy, other friends, and various colleagues at the University of the WesternCape provided much encouragement and I thank them all fortheir wonderful friendship and support. Various people assisted with research materials andfacilitated my work. Adam Small made available an impressive collectionof SASO documents. Librarians at the universities of Cape Town,the Western Cape, Boston, London and York provided much courteousassistance. Numerous ex-SANSCO activists generously made timeavailable for interviews. My partner, Shireen, spent manybackbreaking hours transcribing the interviews with her normal efficiency.Finally,the Sociology Department at the University of York provided anoffice and facilities, which contributed enormously to my productivity. Finally, I thank my parents, parents-in-law, and brothersand sisters for their love, friendship, and various kinds of support. Abbreviations used intheText AC Annual Congress ANC African National Congress ANCYL African National Congress Youth League ASA African Students' Association ASUSA African Students' Union of South Africa AUT Association of University Teachers AZAPO Azanian Peoples' Organisation AZASM Azanian Students' Movement BC Black Consciousness BCM Black Consciousness Movement BCP Black Community Programmes BPC Black Peoples' Convention BSM Black Students' Manifesto BSS Black Students' Society BWP Black Workers' Project CATE College of Advanced Technical Education CI Christian Institute CIIR Catholic Institute of International Relations COSAS Congress of South African Students COSATU Congress of South African Trade Unions CST Colonialism of a Special Type DET Department of Education and Training EC Education Charter ECC Education Charter Campaign FOSATU Federation of South African Trade Unions FUS Free University
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