The People Cannot Live in the Air: History of the Squatter Movement in South Africa PDF 2021

Ngwane 2021: SUMMARY: The text discusses the history of grassroots movements in South Africa, focusing on the squatter movement during the mid-20th century and the resurgence in the 1980s against apartheid. It highlights the formation of community structures like amakomiti as vital organs of strugg...

Ngwane 2021: SUMMARY: The text discusses the history of grassroots movements in South Africa, focusing on the squatter movement during the mid-20th century and the resurgence in the 1980s against apartheid. It highlights the formation of community structures like amakomiti as vital organs of struggle and self-governance. It delves into the historical context of migrant labor, rural community organization, and the emergence of the working class due to urbanization and proletarianization. The narrative shifts to the 1940s squatter movement in Johannesburg, led by figures like James Sofasonke Mpanza, illustrating the fight for housing and self-organization. The text outlines various challenges faced by squatter communities, including state intervention, demolition of settlements, and the impact of capitalist development on urbanization and living conditions. Moreover, it explores the role of shack dwellers in the 1980s and 1990s anti-apartheid movement within the United Democratic Front (UDF). It discusses the UDF's political strategy, engagement with different social groups, and the grassroots struggle against apartheid. The narrative also touches on the complexities of shack dwellers' participation in activism, gender dynamics, leadership structures, and internal community organization. The text emphasizes the importance of grassroots movements, self-organization, and the diverse experiences of marginalized groups like shack dwellers in the broader struggle against apartheid and for social justice in South Africa. It underscores the significance of understanding historical context, social dynamics, and leadership roles in shaping political movements and community initiatives. KEY POINTS: Grassroots community organizations like the township civics and street committees in South Africa formed during struggles against apartheid, but declined post-apartheid due to reduced activism. Research indicates that amakomiti have continued to thrive in the post-apartheid era. The squatter movement in South Africa in the mid-20th century involved forming committees to demand housing. The movement by James Sofasonke Mpanza in Johannesburg in the 1940s aimed for proper housing for black workers. The squatter movement of the 1980s witnessed shack self-organization in opposition to apartheid. In the post-apartheid period, shack residents played a significant role in anti-apartheid movements. The United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 1980s unified struggles against apartheid, including those of shack dwellers. The UDF was critiqued for not fully representing the interests of the poorest of the poor like shack dwellers. Women played vital roles in shack-dweller movements, from fighting evictions to advocating for basic needs and services.  Complexity exists in the debate on shack dwellers' political engagement, influenced by various factors like leadership, social ties, and historical contexts. NAMES, DATES, AND PLACES: Title: The People Cannot Live in the Air: History of the Squatter Movement in South Africa Author: Trevor Ngwane Copyright: 2021 Publisher: Pluto Press Key Figures: James Sofasonke Mpanza Historical Context: 1940s squatter movement in Johannesburg Location: South Africa Time Period: Mid-twentieth century, 1980s Key Areas: Mpondoland, Rustenburg, Soweto, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Alexandra Key Organizations: United Democratic Front (UDF), African National Congress (ANC), ANC Youth League, Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), African Democratic Party (ADP), Abahlali baseMjondolo, Alexandra Civic Organisation (ACO) Concepts: grassroots community organizations, township civics, street and block committees, amakomiti (shack settlement committees), proletarianisation, migrant labor, dual power, political struggle against apartheid, social movements, workers' rights, gender roles, social dynamics in informal settlements, urbanization, struggle against apartheid, housing issues, indigenous institutions, class contradictions, worker militancy, societal repression, land invasions, self-governance, popular democracy. POSSIBLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS: 1. Who was James Sofasonke Mpanza and what was his significance in the 1940s squatter movement? - James Sofasonke Mpanza was a prominent leader in the 1940s squatter movement in Johannesburg. He initiated the movement by leading sub-tenants and poorly housed workers to establish a squatter camp, Shantytown or Sofasonke Village, challenging the state and demanding proper housing for the black working class. 2. What role did the United Democratic Front (UDF) play in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa? - The United Democratic Front (UDF) was crucial in uniting and focusing various local and sectoral struggles against apartheid in the 1980s. It facilitated the emergence of the African National Congress (ANC) as a major force in resisting apartheid. The UDF operated at the local level through affiliated organizations like township civics, street committees, and block committees, coordinating campaigns in the anti-apartheid struggle.  3. What were some key areas in South Africa mentioned in the text? - Some key areas mentioned in the text include Mpondoland, Rustenburg, Soweto, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and Alexandra. These areas were significant in the history of the squatter movement, grassroots democracy, and resistance against apartheid in South Africa. 4. Can you explain the concept of amakomiti in the context of the text? - Amakomiti are grassroots committees formed in shack settlements in South Africa to address issues of self-governance, struggle against apartheid, and community organization. They serve as organs of struggle and grassroots self-governance structures. The text explores how amakomiti evolved and functioned during periods of heightened struggle, reflecting the history and dynamics of the squatter movement in the country. CREATE A TEST WITH ANSWERS: Bibliography reference IN HARVARD STYLE Ngwane, T. (2021). The People Cannot Live in the Air: History of the Squatter Movement in South Africa. Pluto Press.