Difference between revisions of "South Africa NGO Sector"

From NGO Handbook
(→‎History of the Nonprofit Sector in South Africa)
(→‎History of the Nonprofit Sector in South Africa)
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In the early 1980s, anti-Apartheid civil society organizations grew as a result of President P.W. Botha’s liberalization of the political system.  Nonetheless, his reform movement retained repressive elements, and the state-civil society relationship throughout the 1980s remained adversarial, with a hostile legal and financial [[Environmental NGOs|environment]] for NGOs (Habib 675-77).  Oppositional social movements spawned by community-based organizations were integral in bringing about the end of Apartheid in 1994. <membersonly>
 
In the early 1980s, anti-Apartheid civil society organizations grew as a result of President P.W. Botha’s liberalization of the political system.  Nonetheless, his reform movement retained repressive elements, and the state-civil society relationship throughout the 1980s remained adversarial, with a hostile legal and financial [[Environmental NGOs|environment]] for NGOs (Habib 675-77).  Oppositional social movements spawned by community-based organizations were integral in bringing about the end of Apartheid in 1994. <membersonly>
 
    
 
    
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With the transition to democracy in the post-apartheid period, South African civil society evolved into three groups: formal NGOs; informal, survivalist community-based organizations (CBOs); and so-called “social movements” (Habib 678-683).  Government support for formal NGOs was first enshrined in the 1994 Resource Development Programme spearheaded by President Nelson Mandela.  Since then, the government has sought to create an enabling environment for NGOs, first by repealing repressive legislation and opening the door for legitimate protest, and later by introducing a variety of legislation regarding NGO registration and tax benefits, which will be discussed in further detail below.  The result has been an increasing partnership between these organizations and the state on policy development, implementation and service delivery, as well as growing criticism of the professionalization and commercialization of NGOs from both within and outside the sector (Habib 679).   
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With the transition to democracy in the post-Apartheid period, South African civil society evolved into three groups:  
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#Formal NGOs
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#Informal survivalist community-based organizations (CBOs)
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#So-called “social movements” (Habib 678-683).   
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Government support for formal NGOs was first enshrined in the 1994 Resource Development Programme spearheaded by President Nelson Mandela.  Since then, the government has sought to create an enabling environment for NGOs, first by repealing repressive legislation and opening the door for legitimate protest, and later by introducing a variety of legislation regarding NGO registration and tax benefits, which will be discussed in further detail below.  The result has been an increasing [[NGO Networking|partnership]] between these organizations and the state on policy development, implementation and service delivery, as well as growing criticism of the professionalization and commercialization of NGOs from both within and outside the sector (Habib 679).   
  
 
South Africa’s political transition also led to economic liberalization, which, while benefiting the upper classes throughout society (particularly black elites), has devastated the lives of many poor families.  As a result, there has been a rise in informal CBOs attempting to meet the needs of marginalized populations.  Adam Habib argues that, rather than celebrating such organizations as examples of South Africa’s dynamic social change movement, one should recognize them as “survivalist responses of poor and marginalized people who have had no alternative in the face of a retreating state that refuses to meet its socioeconomic obligations to its citizenry” (Habib 682).
 
South Africa’s political transition also led to economic liberalization, which, while benefiting the upper classes throughout society (particularly black elites), has devastated the lives of many poor families.  As a result, there has been a rise in informal CBOs attempting to meet the needs of marginalized populations.  Adam Habib argues that, rather than celebrating such organizations as examples of South Africa’s dynamic social change movement, one should recognize them as “survivalist responses of poor and marginalized people who have had no alternative in the face of a retreating state that refuses to meet its socioeconomic obligations to its citizenry” (Habib 682).
  
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The third group of civil society organizations is often referred to as “social movements”; these are community-based groups that are more formal than the survivalist CBOs, and are often supported by a base of middle-class activists (Habib 683).  Their aims are explicitly political, and they work to mobilize poor communities to challenge the political, social, or economic status quo.  Though formal NGOs and social movements represent the minority of civil society organizations, they receive the vast majority of aid resources, from the government, private sector, official development agencies, and private foundations (Russell and Swilling).
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The third group of civil society organizations is often referred to as “social movements.” These are community-based groups that are more formal than the survivalist CBOs, and are often supported by a base of middle-class activists (Habib 683).  Their aims are explicitly political, and they work to mobilize poor communities to challenge the political, social, or economic status quo.  Though formal NGOs and social movements represent the minority of civil society organizations, they receive the vast majority of aid resources, from the government, private sector, official development agencies, and private foundations (Russell and Swilling).
  
 
==Size and scope of the nonprofit sector==
 
==Size and scope of the nonprofit sector==

Revision as of 11:41, 13 August 2008

History of the Nonprofit Sector in South Africa

The nonprofit sector in South Africa has a long history. The beginnings of civil society arose during the colonial period with various religious, cultural, and welfarist community-based groups. In addition, the European colonial powers brought their own organizations with them from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries (Swilling and Russell 67). During the twentieth century, the nonprofit sector developed further through a corporatist pact between the British elite and Afrikaner middle class (Swilling and Russell 68). Large, formalized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with health and social services emerged for the exclusive care of the white community. At the same time, grassroots community-based organizations arose in the black community in order to provide basic services. These groups were often survivalist and stood in opposition to segregation and later Apartheid. For the most part, the white-run government tolerated these organizations, except during periods of active political repression like the 1960s.

In the early 1980s, anti-Apartheid civil society organizations grew as a result of President P.W. Botha’s liberalization of the political system. Nonetheless, his reform movement retained repressive elements, and the state-civil society relationship throughout the 1980s remained adversarial, with a hostile legal and financial environment for NGOs (Habib 675-77). Oppositional social movements spawned by community-based organizations were integral in bringing about the end of Apartheid in 1994.


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