James Mpanza and the Sofasonke Party in the development of local politics in Soweto
Date
2014-09-17
Authors
French, Kevin John
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Abstract
This dissertation traces the life aiu. career of James
Sofasonke Mpanza , in particular since he became involved in
local politics in Orlando in 1935.
His major political act was the organisation of a large
squatter camp in 1944. On the basis of this he and the
Sofasonke Party rose to power in Orlando. With the political
climate resulting from the rise of national politics in the
1950's, his party lost its support but returned in the wake of
state repression. He was drawn into state structures , but
retained a widespread good reputation in spite of this.
vThis work seeks to demonstrate through a highly detailed
story of Mpanza's carreer that only political power built on
the organisation of working class demands is durable , but also
only if this is accompanied by an ideology consistent with
working class interests. It is the former on which Mpanza's
reputation is based and the lack of the latter which led to his downfall.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Arts, 1983.