Mafube Business Forum (MBF) was very impressed with the recent speech of Dr. Corné Mulder, chief whip of the Freedom Front Plus during a multi-party indaba, where recognition was given to the importance of civil organisations in bringing about positive change in our country. Dr. Mulder has been widely praised for his "adult in the room" approach regarding cooperation between parties on many levels. Dr. Mulder acknowledged that political parties will not be successful on their own - there will have to be more collaboration and reliance on civic organisations including church- and sports groups, pressure groups, community- and business organisations.
South Africa's civil society organisations have increasingly become the last line of defence, fighting on behalf of ordinary citizens against out-of-control corruption, failure of public service delivery, and abuse of power by elected and public representatives. The civil society landscape is far more diverse, dynamic and assertive in holding government accountable, fighting corruption and supporting democracy and democratic institutions than in many comparable developing countries.
South Africa's constitution is recognised as one of the best in the world and gives a special place for civil society to play an oversight role over democratic institutions, monitor human rights and ensure citizens, especially the poor, vulnerable and excluded, the give tools to know and assert their rights.
Anti-democratic elements within the government often express their disapproval of civil society organisations and activists' actions to hold the government and leaders accountable. It has gone so far as to demand that civil society organisations be regulated or banned because they are believed to be promoting the interests of foreign groups, or are racist and reactionary in nature, as argued in 2017 by the current Deputy Minister of Housing, Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo.
Like other civil society organisations, MBF also frequently face opposition from government quarters and political institutions, who struggle to see the bigger picture and have less understanding of long-term, sustainable solutions. This is most probably just due to being uninformed. Take a look at a recent interview with Dr. Corné Mulder at bit.ly/44pFrS0
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