Transition, the state and relations of political power in South Africa

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the changing relations of political power between the South African Government and the African National Congress in the specific period of 1990. It specifies how these relations are reconstituting the political terrain at the central level. It argues that, at the central level, there is a relative but crucial disempowerment of the ANC. This has a negative effect on the ANC's position in negotiations, and results in a relatively mild challenge to largely intact state power. Because of an important disjuncture between the ANC and powerful grassroots community and workers organisations, important sources of power are not being brought to bear on the ANC's negotiations with the Government. The successful challenge to entrenched white state power depends on the convergence of negotiation processes and community and workers’ power.