Municipal unrest in the Free State (South Africa): a new form of social movement?

Abstract

This article examines some recent local protests South Africa has experienced. The unrest in the Phumelela Local Municipality, located in the north-eastern part of the Free State, is presented as a case study. The article argues that the local protests experienced in the Free State (and other parts of South Africa) are distinctly different from the types of social movements described in existing South African literature. These protests cannot be referred to as fully-fledged social movements. Yet, the issues at stake are real local service-delivery problems, mainly attributed to ineffective governance and management of basic service delivery in these areas. The article highlights the inability of municipal staff and governance structures to listen to people and manage their complaints effectively.