The Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) was established in Johannesburg in July 2000 by activists and organisations involved in two key anti-privatisation struggles: the struggle against iGoli 2002, and the struggle against Wits 2001 at Wits University. The APF had affiliates from the unions, communities, students and the left: while most affiliates were township-based community movements, it also included small leftwing political groups, like Keep Left and the anarchist Bikisha Media Collective (later part of the Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front).
For ten years the APF was a vibrant social movement in Gauteng townships, including areas on the East Rand and in Soweto and Orange Farm. It is now defunct.[1]
The APF had fairly detailed positions on a wide range of issues, and was self-described as 'anti-capitalist.' However, its focus was on struggles, and in practice, affiliate organisations and individuals could take a wide range of positions. Many ordinary members were interested primarily in fighting against immediate problems, such as evictions and cut-offs, and did not take hard political positions.
Others however were influenced by left-wing ideas, including Marxism–Leninism in the Socialist Party of Azania tradition, Trotskyism in various forms, and anarchist communism. There was also a small autonomist current, based largely among university intellectuals.
Trevor Ngwane, one of the founding members, and a former town councillor[2] was the APF's best known figure: his politics were orthodox Trotskyism.[3]
Repression
The movement suffered significant state repression, largely directed at protestors from APF community-based affiliates.[4]
References
^Lessons of Struggle: The Rise and Fall of the Anti-Privatisation Forum. Dale T. McKinley, SACSIS, 8 February 2012
^"zcommunications.org Is For Sale". www.zcommunications.org.
^Drew Forrest, 31 February 2003, “Social Movements: 'Ultra-left' or 'Global Citizens'?,” Mail and Guardian, pp. 9-11 Archived November 9, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
^Dissent Under Thabo Mbeki[permanent dead link], Jane Duncan, May 2011
https://web.archive.org/web/20180928043635/http://apf.org.za/ The Anti-Privatisation Forum webpage (still online)
http://www.saha.org.za/publications/anti_privatisation_forum.htm Dale McKinley, Transition's Child: The Anti-Privatisation Forum, a history produced for The South African History Archive (SAHA)
http://www.saha.org.za/apf/labour.htm The Anti-Privatisation Forum's engagements with the trade unions
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