The New Brighton Advisory Board, c. 1923-1952: its legitimacy and legacy.
Date
1990-02-06T07:02:27Z
Authors
Baines, Gary F., 1955-
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Abstract
The historical significance of advisory boards has been downplayed
because of their contradictory role in urban African politics. Until the 1940s, the
system of Advisory Boards was dominated by the 'most reactionary
elements' of the African petty bourgeoisie. This paper contends that,
despite the purely consultative functions of the Boards,
participation in Advisory Board politics was an important channel
of mobilisation in urban African communities until at least the
Second World War. Thereafter their legitimacy of was questioned. This paper also studies the New
Brighton Advisory Board with particular reference to the question
of the Board's legitimacy and its relationship with the local
authority in the period between 1923 and 1952. It also evaluates the Board as a locus
of activity concerned with wider socio-political issues.
Description
Paper presented at the Wits History Workshop: Structure and Experience in the Making of Apartheid, 6-10 February, 1990
Keywords
New Brighton (Port Elizabeth), Advisory Boards, Local government, South Africa