The Azanian People’s Organisation believes that SA’s transition from apartheid to democracy in 1994 has not brought much change to people’s lived realities.
The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with various events across the country.
Reflecting on the celebrations, Zithulele Cindi, who is the Secretary General of AZAPO told Political Analysis South Africa on Thursday, 3 May 2018 that the party reaffirmed their commitment “to the struggle to bring about total liberation and emancipation [while] decrying the state of affairs politically and socially.”
He said that AZAPO aims to be “at the centre of bringing about total liberation in this country” by continuing to mobilise people in order to bring about change to the marginalised.
Since it first contested elections in the country in 1999, AZAPO’s electoral support has declined. The party managed to gain one seat in the National Assembly after three consecutive national general elections, but did not manage to garner enough votes in the 2014 elections to retain its seat in parliament.
Cindi, however, says these results do not accurately reflect the support that AZAPO has on the ground.
He explained that contesting elections in the country requires large amount of money and experience on how to appeal to voters so that their support translates to votes on the ballot paper.
“Political campaigning is not a numbers game. It’s a money game. You don’t have money, you’re not going to make it,” he said.
“We’re contesting elections with people who have already mastered the elections machinery,” he added.
Cindi says the party remains committed to the basic tenets of the of the Black Consciousness Movement, as encapsulated by the old adage of “black man you are on your own.”
He said the Black Consciousness Movement is still relevant in the South Africa today because the aims of black consciousness leaders such as Steve Biko are yet to be realised.
Cindi added that black consciousness was the driving force behind the recent Fees Must Fall protests in the country, which saw students from different universities South Africa calling for a scraping of university fees as well as a push of what student termed the decolonisation of the education system.
In the end, says Cindi, the “Youth will drive ideas of black consciousness movement because they have more potential to lead.”