DOCSLIB.ORG

Apartheid South Africa: Political Impartiality Or Partisanship?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Apartheid South Africa: Political Impartiality Or Partisanship? Journal for Contemporary History 40(1) / Joernaal vir Eietydse Geskiedenis 40(1): 41-58 © UV/UFS • ISSN 0285-2422 THE ROLE OF THE SPEAKER IN POST- APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA: POLITICAL IMPARTIALITY OR PARTISANSHIP? PAH Labuschagne1 and CJ Napier2 Abstract The role of the Speaker in the South African Parliament has recently being steeped in controversy when the sitting Speaker, Ms Baleka Mbete, was accused of partiality and strong partisanship towards the ruling party. This controversy highlighted the cardinally important role of a Speaker in parliament to ensure impartiality and fairness to all political parties. The South African Parliament is based on the British Westminster system in which the impartiality of the Speaker is accorded a very high premium and a distinguishing feature of that legislature. The aim of this article is to investigate the office of the Speaker with reference to its historical background and development as an official position in a parliamentary system. The purpose is to highlight the Speaker’s important role, not only as the chairperson of the National Assembly, but also as the custodian of the powers and the dignity of the Assembly. The article also points out the inherent dangers of the Speaker’s embrace of partisan interests above that of parliament and the implications for the future role of the institution. Keywords: Speaker; Westminster parliamentary system; South African parliament; power; procedures. Sleutelwoorde: Speaker; Westminster parlementêre stelsel; Suid-Afrikaanse parlement; mag; prosedures. 1. INTRODUCTION The speakership of parliament is an official position within the parliamentary system of government and is of critical importance on multiple levels. The position is not only critical in relation to the foundational history of the institution, but also in the modern era to ensure the effective functioning of parliament both at a political and management level. The speakership of parliament consists of an office and a person – an elected member who holds that office. However, in South Africa the Speaker’s position has been compromised, as argued in this article, and has raised concerns about its future status, role, powers and ability to ensure fair debate in parliament. 1 Professor and Chair, Department of Political Sciences, University of South Africa. E-mail [email protected] 2 Associate Professor and Subject Head of African Politics, Department of Political Sciences, University of South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] 41 JCH / JEG 40(1) June/Junie 2015 The Speaker of parliament – the holder of that office in a parliamentary system – could in general terms be described as a chairperson of a special kind. This broad understanding of the role of a Speaker, however, simplifies the Speaker’s all-encompassing historical and symbolic complexity. As will be explained in the article, the Speaker and the roles that he/she plays are pivotal to the success and the orderly functioning of parliament. The “chairperson” of the British House of Commons was historically named “Speaker”, because the incumbent, then just an ordinary member of the House, was the person who spoke on behalf of members of the House of Commons when the institution was still developing in the 16th century. The principle task of the Speaker at the time was to submit petitions to the King on behalf of members of the House of Commons (Wiechers 1983:272). However, in its symbolic context and in full understanding of the Speaker’s status and position, his or her role amounts to much more than just a chairperson of a legislature. In reality, the value and importance of the position exceeds that of an ordinary chairperson by far. On a broader level the Speaker represents the powers and the dignity of parliament, the history, the tradition and embraces and represents the deeper values of the institution (emphasis added). The office of the “chairperson” or Speaker has developed over centuries in tandem with the historical development of parliaments. The position of the Speaker in the majority of modern parliaments is unmistakeably a pivotal figure of critical importance in view of the composition and divided nature of legislatures along party, class and personality lines. The importance of a dignified and impartial Speaker is essential for a fully functioning parliament (Rautenbach and Malherbe 1996:124). When the image of a Speaker gets tarnished, then the dignity, credibility and legitimacy of that institution will also be under threat. During South African parliamentary sessions in 2014, recent developments regarding the impartiality of the Speaker are therefore unsettling for the pursuit of vigorous parliamentary debate and democracy. The question marks and concerns about the Speaker’s impartiality have drawn the office of the Speaker and the incumbent of the office into the centre of fierce national debate. The impartiality of the Speaker’s role was heavily debated in the media, among political parties and within civil society (Pretoria News 2014a; 2014b). In an almost unprecedented step the parliamentary opposition united and demanded in a strongly worded motion, tabled in August 2014, that the Speaker, Ms Baleka Mbete, be removed from office as a result of her alleged partisanship towards the ruling party and her lack of impartiality. Although the motion was defeated when the ruling African National Congress (ANC) used its majority in the National Assembly to defeat the motion, the determination of the opposition to end what they termed the partiality of the Speaker was a rare event in the parliamentary history of the country (Beeld 2014). 42 Labuschagne & Napier • The role of the Speaker in post-apartheid South Africa The motion was followed by a further request in November 2014 for the Speaker to leave office when opposition members of parliament (MPs) chanted, “You must go” during a parliamentary uproar to which the Speaker responded, “You wish”. This uproar was provoked by the Speaker’s ruling on the order paper of the day (Speaker of parliament 2015). The controversy surrounding the sitting Speaker’s lack of impartiality and her perceived partisanship are uncommon in Westminster systems. The British Westminster system has over the centuries developed conventions and unwritten rules on how to ensure the impartiality of the Speaker. In a general election in the United Kingdom, for example, when the sitting Speaker stands in a constituency, the opposition parties would not oppose his or her re-election. This is done on the historical understanding and convention that the Speaker should not be opposed as long as he or she refrained from discussing party politics in the run up to the election (Barry 2004:115). In the parliamentary history of South Africa during the pre-democratic phase (1910-1994), the Speaker’s position and rulings were relatively controversy free and the matter of his or her impartiality never surfaced very strongly. As referred to below, this is borne out by references made to Speakers of the period by some of those members who differed strongly with the Speaker’s party of origin. This tradition has been maintained throughout the early phase of the era of democracy, when consecutive Speakers set a good example by elevating themselves above party politics, serving the broad interests of parliament. The tradition of impartiality was maintained by Dr Frene Ginwala, the Speaker in the first South African democratic parliament (1994-2004). Much of the controversy around the speakers arose from about 2004 onwards, as referred to below. The actions of Ms Baleka Mbete, the current (2014-2015) Speaker of parliament, and the accusations of partisanship and a lack of impartiality levelled against her, have moved the office of the Speaker into the public domain and into the centre of controversy. The feature of a dignified and impartial Speaker, which is the characteristic of a well-functioning parliament, was suddenly put in doubt and at risk. The logical fear was that the questioning of the impartiality of the Speaker would undermine the status of the legislature whose stature and importance has been globally on the decline (Jackson and Jackson 1996:57). 2. AIM AND FOCUS OF THE ARTICLE The introductory section has served as a background to the focus in the article. The aim and focus of the article is to emphasise the important role and functions of the Speaker in the Westminster parliamentary model in relation to the partiality or impartiality of the position. The focus in this article will be narrowed to an 43 JCH / JEG 40(1) June/Junie 2015 examination of the parliamentary or Westminster model, rather than the presidential model of government. By examining the history and development of the position of the Speaker, a conclusion will be drawn as to whether a Speaker can function as an impartial chairperson despite his or her political party affiliation. The focus of the article is to emphasise the importance of the Speaker’s role to guide debate in a deeply divided legislature with dignity and to reflect and personalise parliament’s historical values. The aim of the article is therefore to: i. provide a short review of the literature sources on the Speakership. ii. explain the evolutionary position of the Speaker with specific reference to its historical development in Britain. iii. outline the historical and constitutional development of the position of the Speaker in South Africa and also to examine the role of the Speaker in relation to the parliamentary rules in South Africa. iv. reflect on the importance of the office of the Speaker to be impartial and dignified and to reflect these values in the National Assembly. 2.1 Literature on the office of Speaker The office and role of a Speaker in general has not received a great deal of scholarly attention in the literature and more particularly in the South African context.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Trekking Outward
    TREKKING OUTWARD A CHRONOLOGY OF MEETINGS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICANS AND THE ANC IN EXILE 1983–2000 Michael Savage University of Cape Town May 2014 PREFACE In the decade preceding the dramatic February 1990 unbanning of South Africa’s black liberatory movements, many hundreds of concerned South Africans undertook to make contact with exile leaders of these organisations, travelling long distances to hold meetings in Europe or in independent African countries. Some of these “treks”, as they came to be called, were secret while others were highly publicised. The great majority of treks brought together South Africans from within South Africa and exile leaders of the African National Congress, and its close ally the South African Communist Party. Other treks involved meetings with the Pan Africanist Congress, the black consciousness movement, and the remnants of the Non-European Unity Movement in exile. This account focuses solely on the meetings involving the ANC alliance, which after February 1990 played a central role in negotiating with the white government of F.W. de Klerk and his National Party regime to bring about a new democratic order. Without the foundation of understanding established by the treks and thousands of hours of discussion and debate that they entailed, it seems unlikely that South Africa’s transition to democracy could have been as successfully negotiated as it was between 1990 and the first democratic election of April 1994. The following chronology focuses only on the meetings of internally based South Africans with the African National Congress (ANC) when in exile over the period 1983–1990. Well over 1 200 diverse South Africans drawn from a wide range of different groups in the non- governmental sector and cross-cutting political parties, language, educational, religious and community groups went on an outward mission to enter dialogue with the ANC in exile in a search to overcome the escalating conflict inside South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Frene NOSHIR GINWALA
    AfricanTowardsScholarship INAUGURATION OF THE CHANCELLOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL AfricanTowardsScholarship Contents 1 FOREWORD : professor dasarath chetty 2 ORATION : DR Frene NOSHIR GINWALA REMAKING THE AFRICAN UNIVERSITY 3 DR FRENE NOSHIR GINWALA 4 oration : professor MALEGAPURU WILLIAM MAKGOBA THE AFRICAN UNIVERSITY: Meaning, Penalties and Responsibilities 5 PROFESSOR MALEGAPURU WILLIAM MAKGOBA Editor : Professor Dasarath Chetty Produced by : Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, UKZN, First imprint : 30 September 2005 Design : AFROSPiCE ISBN : 0-620-35196-9 TOWARDS AFRICAN SCHOLARSHIP Foreword The Installation of both the first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor Similarly, Professor M.W. Makgoba’s basic premise is that of the University of KwaZulu-Natal represents a historic and knowledge production is intimately related to historical, cultural significant event in the history of the University and the and geographical circumstances; that knowledge is produced community in which it is located. The significance of the as a result of a complex and dynamic interplay of societal, installation is clearly evident from the inaugural addresses political, historical and economics pressures. presented herein, providing a visionary trajectory for the University and higher education more generally. In posing the critical question of what does it mean to be an African University, Professor Makgoba follows the Chinua Dr. Frene Ginwala reflects on the broader transformation of Achebe injunction that African identity has a meaning, a penalty South African society over the past eleven years, and the role and a responsibility. It is the penalties of Colonial history, the of parliament in particular, showing how the transformation moral, intellectual and social responsibility of being an African of the University is really a microcosm of what has and is still University, and the need to locate ourselves contextually that being achieved at a societal level.
    [Show full text]
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report: Volume 2
    VOLUME TWO Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report The report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was presented to President Nelson Mandela on 29 October 1998. Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize Chairperson Dr Alex Boraine Mr Dumisa Ntsebeza Vice-Chairperson Ms Mary Burton Dr Wendy Orr Revd Bongani Finca Adv Denzil Potgieter Ms Sisi Khampepe Dr Fazel Randera Mr Richard Lyster Ms Yasmin Sooka Mr Wynand Malan* Ms Glenda Wildschut Dr Khoza Mgojo * Subject to minority position. See volume 5. Chief Executive Officer: Dr Biki Minyuku I CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 6 National Overview .......................................... 1 Special Investigation The Death of President Samora Machel ................................................ 488 Chapter 2 The State outside Special Investigation South Africa (1960-1990).......................... 42 Helderberg Crash ........................................... 497 Special Investigation Chemical and Biological Warfare........ 504 Chapter 3 The State inside South Africa (1960-1990).......................... 165 Special Investigation Appendix: State Security Forces: Directory Secret State Funding................................... 518 of Organisations and Structures........................ 313 Special Investigation Exhumations....................................................... 537 Chapter 4 The Liberation Movements from 1960 to 1990 ..................................................... 325 Special Investigation Appendix: Organisational structures and The Mandela United
    [Show full text]
  • Who Is Governing the ''New'' South Africa?
    Who is Governing the ”New” South Africa? Marianne Séverin, Pierre Aycard To cite this version: Marianne Séverin, Pierre Aycard. Who is Governing the ”New” South Africa?: Elites, Networks and Governing Styles (1985-2003). IFAS Working Paper Series / Les Cahiers de l’ IFAS, 2006, 8, p. 13-37. hal-00799193 HAL Id: hal-00799193 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00799193 Submitted on 11 Mar 2013 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Ten Years of Democratic South Africa transition Accomplished? by Aurelia WA KABWE-SEGATTI, Nicolas PEJOUT and Philippe GUILLAUME Les Nouveaux Cahiers de l’IFAS / IFAS Working Paper Series is a series of occasional working papers, dedicated to disseminating research in the social and human sciences on Southern Africa. Under the supervision of appointed editors, each issue covers a specifi c theme; papers originate from researchers, experts or post-graduate students from France, Europe or Southern Africa with an interest in the region. The views and opinions expressed here remain the sole responsibility of the authors. Any query regarding this publication should be directed to the chief editor. Chief editor: Aurelia WA KABWE – SEGATTI, IFAS-Research director.
    [Show full text]
  • The Referendum in FW De Klerk's War of Manoeuvre
    The referendum in F.W. de Klerk’s war of manoeuvre: An historical institutionalist account of the 1992 referendum. Gary Sussman. London School of Economics and Political Science. Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Government and International History, 2003 UMI Number: U615725 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U615725 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 T h e s e s . F 35 SS . Library British Library of Political and Economic Science Abstract: This study presents an original effort to explain referendum use through political science institutionalism and contributes to both the comparative referendum and institutionalist literatures, and to the political history of South Africa. Its source materials are numerous archival collections, newspapers and over 40 personal interviews. This study addresses two questions relating to F.W. de Klerk's use of the referendum mechanism in 1992. The first is why he used the mechanism, highlighting its role in the context of the early stages of his quest for a managed transition.
    [Show full text]
  • The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project
    The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project STEVE McDONALD Interviewed by: Dan Whitman Initial Interview Date: August 17, 2011 Copyright 2018 ADST TABLE OF CONTENTS Education MA, South African Policy Studies, University of London 1975 Joined Foreign Service 1975 Washington, DC 1975 Desk Officer for Portuguese African Colonies Pretoria, South Africa 1976-1979 Political Officer -- Black Affairs Retired from the Foreign Service 1980 Professor at Drury College in Missouri 1980-1982 Consultant, Ford Foundation’s Study 1980-1982 “South Africa: Time Running Out” Head of U.S. South Africa Leadership Exchange Program 1982-1987 Managed South Africa Policy Forum at the Aspen Institute 1987-1992 Worked for African American Institute 1992-2002 Consultant for the Wilson Center 2002-2008 Consulting Director at Wilson Center 2009-2013 INTERVIEW Q: Here we go. This is Dan Whitman interviewing Steve McDonald at the Wilson Center in downtown Washington. It is August 17. Steve McDonald, you are about to correct me the head of the Africa section… McDONALD: Well the head of the Africa program and the project on leadership and building state capacity at the Woodrow Wilson international center for scholars. 1 Q: That is easy for you to say. Thank you for getting that on the record, and it will be in the transcript. In the Wilson Center many would say the prime research center on the East Coast. McDONALD: I think it is true. It is a think tank a research and academic body that has approximately 150 fellows annually from all over the world looking at policy issues.
    [Show full text]
  • G U I D E T O a L L P H O T O G R a P
    Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg G U I D E T O A L L P H O T O G R A P H S (Including an INDEX following the listing) Copyright: Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand Library 1 This Guide incorporates material from the general Historical Papers collections and the archive of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa. The listing is followed by an INDEX. The descriptions include albums, scrapbooks, loose prints, negatives, slides, postcards, some posters, sketches and paintings, and images on glass or metal plates. Most of the items were received with collections of documents, others are photographic collections. A1 HOFMEYR, Jan Hendrik, 1894 – 1948 Gf1 Hofmeyr Gf1.1 Album of photographs 1 vol. 1947 Taken during the visit of Hofmeyr as Minister of Mines for the"Cutting of the First Sod Ceremony, Freddies North Lease Area Ltd and Freddies South Lease Area Ltd", O.F.S., 11 Jul.1947 Gf1.2 Mounted Gf1.2.1 Hofmeyr as a boy of about 12, with cat on shoulder Gf1.2.2 Hofmeyr as a young man Gf1.2.3. Hofmeyr, with mother, and two others, unidentified Gf1.2.4 Hofmeyr, being presented with the volume of the Hebrew "Thesaurus" by Leon Feldberg Gf1.2.5 Hofmeyr, in group Gf1.3 Loose 9 items Undated Gf1.3.1 Taken at home, including one with cat, and one of his mother 6 items Gf1.3.2 with two young ladies 3 items Gf2 Other Gf2.1 Identified Gf2.1.1 S.A.Morrison, Dec.1927 Gf2.1.2 Ronald S.Dewar, Xmas 1936 Gf2.1.3 G.Kramer, 9 Nov.1940 Gf2.1.4 Edwin Swales, June 1941 Gf2.1.5 Leif Egeland and wife, 5 Feb.1944 Gf2.1.6 Visit of Royal Family to Cape Town, 1947 3 items Gf2.1.7 General Smuts, Undated Gf2.1.8 Copy of portrait of C.N.de Wet Gf2.1.9 Copy of effigy of Paul Kruger Gf2.1.10 Boys Camp, Undated 24 items Gf2.2 Unidentified 16 items Kd1-8.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture
    The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture Contents Page 3 | The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture Page 4 | President Thabo Mbeki Page 18 | Wangari Maathai Page 26 | Archbishop Desmond Tutu Page 34 | President William J. Clinton The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture | PAGE 1 PAGE 2 | The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture 2007 PAGE 2 | The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture he Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF), The inaugural Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture was through its Centre of Memory and held on 19 July 2003, and was delivered by T Dialogue, seeks to contribute to a just President William Jefferson Clinton. The second society by promoting the vision and work of its Founder Annual Lecture was delivered by Nobel Peace Prize and, using his example, to convene dialogue around winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu on 23 November critical social issues. 2004. The third Annual Lecture was delivered on 19 July 2005 by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Professor Our Founder, Nelson Mandela, based his entire life Wangari Maathai MP, from Kenya. The fourth on the principle of dialogue, the art of listening Annual Lecture was delivered by President Thabo and speaking to others; it is also the art of getting Mbeki on 29 July 2006. others to listen and speak to each other. The NMF’s Centre of Memory and Dialogue encourages people Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mr Kofi Annan, the former to enter into dialogue – often about difficult Secretary-General of the United Nations, will deliver the subjects – in order to address the challenges we fifth Annual Lecture on 22 July 2007. face today. The Centre provides the historic resources and a safe, non-partisan space, physically and intellectually, where open and frank This booklet consolidates the four Annual Lectures discourse can take place.
    [Show full text]
  • An Exploration of the Communication Strategies of Three Early Think Tanks
    University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2018-04-20 An exploration of the communication strategies of three early think tanks Hexham, Jeremy Johnston Hexham, J. J. (2018). An exploration of the communication strategies of three early think tanks (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/31819 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/106533 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY An exploration of the communication strategies of three early think tanks by Jeremy Johnston Hexham A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES CALGARY, ALBERTA APRIL, 2018 © Jeremy Johnston Hexham 2018 Abstract This thesis discusses the development of communications strategies by three early think tanks. These are the British Socialist Fabian Society founded in 1884, the South African Afrikaner Broederbond founded in 1918, and the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) founded in 1929. All three are generally accepted as highly influential organizations. The Fabian Society is arguably the earliest modern think tank. Its members developed two modes of communication which are identified in this thesis as rational-scientific and cultural-identity communications.
    [Show full text]
  • State of the Nation Address by President of the Republic of South
    State of the Nation Address by President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa 16 February 2018 Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Thandi Modise, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Former President Thabo Mbeki, Former Deputy President FW de Klerk, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and all esteemed members of the judiciary, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Premiers and Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, Chairperson of SALGA and all Executive Mayors present, The Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions, Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Leaders of faith based organisations, Former Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala, Former Speaker Mr Max Sisulu, Invited Guests, Veterans of the struggle for liberation, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Honourable members, Fellow South Africans, It is a great honour and privilege to deliver this State of the Nation Address. This Address should have been delivered last week, but was delayed so that we could properly manage issues of political transition. I wish to thank Honourable Members and the people of South Africa for their patience and forbearance. I also wish to extend a word of gratitude to former President Jacob Zuma for the manner in which he approached this difficult and sensitive process. I wish to thank him for his service to the nation during his two terms as President of the Republic, during which the country made significant progress in several areas of development. Fellow South Africans, In just over 150 days from now, the peoples of the world will unite in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
    [Show full text]
  • Objecting to Apartheid
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS) OBJECTING TO APARTHEID: THE HISTORY OF THE END CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN By DAVID JONES Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS In the subject HISTORY At the UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR GARY MINKLEY JANUARY 2013 I, David Jones, student number 200603420, hereby declare that I am fully aware of the University of Fort Hare’s policy on plagiarism and I have taken every precaution to comply with the regulations. Signature…………………………………………………………… Abstract This dissertation explores the history of the End Conscription Campaign (ECC) and evaluates its contribution to the struggle against apartheid. The ECC mobilised white opposition to apartheid by focussing on the role of the military in perpetuating white rule. By identifying conscription as the price paid by white South Africans for their continued political dominance, the ECC discovered a point of resistance within apartheid discourse around which white opposition could converge. The ECC challenged the discursive constructs of apartheid on many levels, going beyond mere criticism to the active modeling of alternatives. It played an important role in countering the intense propaganda to which all white South Africans were subject to ensure their loyalty, and in revealing the true nature of the conflict in the country. It articulated the dis-ease experienced by many who were alienated by the dominant culture of conformity, sexism, racism and homophobia. By educating, challenging and empowering white citizens to question the role of the military and, increasingly, to resist conscription it weakened the apartheid state thus adding an important component to the many pressures brought to bear on it which, in their combination, resulted in its demise.
    [Show full text]
  • 2 Presentation of the Bible to Jacobus Uys (April 1837) A2/A3
    2 Presentation of the Bible to Jacobus Uys (April 1837) A2/A3 B2 C2 D N 2 Presentation 26 27 1 25 2 East wall, north-east projection (panel 3/31) 24 3 h. 2.3 × w. 2.4 m 4 23 Sculptor of clay maquette: Hennie Potgieter 22 5 Stages of production A1 W.H. Coetzer, pencil drawing, retained only in A2 (April–June 1937) 21 A2 Reproduction of A1 (June 1937) 6 A3 W.H. Coetzer, revised pencil drawing A1, h. 13.3 × w. 15.3 cm 20 (after September 1937) 7 Annotation: ‘Oorhandiging van Bybel aan Uys’ 19 (Handing over of Bible to Uys) 8 18 B1 One-third-scale clay maquette, not extant but replicated in B2 (1942–43) 17 9 B2 One-third-scale plaster maquette, h. 79 × w. 76 × d. 10.4 cm (1942–43) 16 10 C1 Full-scale wooden armature, not extant (1943–46) 15 14 13 12 11 C2 Full-scale clay relief, not extant but recorded in photograph; replicated in C3 (1943–46) 0 5 10 m C3 Full-scale plaster relief (1943–46), not extant but copied in D (late 1947–49) D Marble as installed in the Monument (1949) Early records SVK minutes (4.9.1937) ― item 4b (see below, ‘Developing the design’) Wenke (c. 1934–36) ― item VI. SEN. F.S. MALAN, 3 ‘Tweede toneel: Aanbieding van Bybel te Grahamstad aan Voortrekker Uys’ (Second scene: Presentation of Bible at Grahamstown to Voortrekker Uys) Moerdyk Layout (5.10.1936–15.1.1937) ― scene 2 on panel 5/31 ‘Bybel en Uys’ (Bible and Uys) Jansen Memorandum (19.1.1937) ― item 7.2 ‘The English inhabitants presenting Uys with a Bible before his departure’ Open Access.
    [Show full text]