James Mpanza and the Sofasonke Party in the development of local politics in Soweto

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.