Azanian People's Organisation

Azanian People's Organisation
President Jacob Dikobo
Chairperson Zithulele Nyangana Absalom Cindi
Secretary-General Mpotseng Kgokong
Founded 28 April 1978 (1978-04-28)
Merger of BCMA and Azapo
Preceded by Black People's Convention
Headquarters Suite 702, Nedbank Building, 145 Smal Street, Johannesburg
Student wing Azanian Students' Convention
Youth wing Azanian Youth Organisation
Women's wing Imbeleko
Liberation Army Azanian National Liberation Army
(formerly)
Ideology Socialism,
Black Consciousness
Colours Black, Red, and Orange               
Slogan The People's Alternative
National Assembly seats
0 / 400
Party flag
Website
www.azapo.org.za

The Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) is a South African political organisation and a former liberation movement. The organisation's two student wings are the Azanian Students' Movement (AZASM) for high school learners and the other being for tertiary students called the Azanian Students' Convention (AZASCO), its women's wing is Imbeleko Women's Organisation, simply known as IMBELEKO. Its inspiration is drawn from the Black Consciousness Movement philosophies developed by Steve Biko, Onkgopotse Tiro and Vuyelwa Mashalaba, as well as Marxist Scientific Socialism.

It was founded in 1978 out of three organisations: the Black People's Convention (BPC), the South African Students' Organisation (SASO) and the Black Community Programmes (BCP). These were three of the 17 black consciousness organisations that were banned on Wednesday, 19 October 1977 for their role in the armed resistance and the 16 June 1976 Soweto uprisings. In October 1994, AZAPO merged with its sister organisation in exile, the Black Consciousness Movement of Azania (BCMA).

AZAPO campaigned for the isolation of South Africa during its apartheid years by waging a so-called "cultural boycott" in the country; black people increasingly regained their resolve to fight for their rights and formed trade unions and civic organisations that drew the blueprint for the conduct of struggles by civil society.

During the Apartheid era, the armed wing of AZAPO was the Azanian National Liberation Army (AZANLA) which received support and military training in China, Libya, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Eritrea. There was an agreement with Iraq to train AZANLA combantants but that was thwarted by the invasion of Iraq by the US in 1990. During the 1980s, it was engaged in a bloody internecine feud with the ANC.

AZAPO ,along with its youth wing AZAYO were unbanned in 1990, which permitted it to continue its political programs legally. It was invited, but refused to participate in, the negotiations to end apartheid, a decision which led to the resignation of two senior members, Monwabisi Vuza and Imraan Moosa.[1] The party then boycotted the 1994 elections, but has participated in each of the elections since then. On 21 March 1998 a faction broke away to form the Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA). AZAPO won one seat in each of the 1999, 2004 and 2009 elections, but failed to win a seat in the 2014 general election.

The current leader of the party is Prof Itumeleng Mosala.

Negotiations with SOPA

The party has had regular negotiations with SOPA aimed at merging the two parties, but these broke down in 2004, 2007 and again in 2013.[2][3]

Election results

National elections

Election Votes % Seats
2014 20,421 0.11 0
2009 38,245 0.22 1
2004 39,116 0.25 1
1999 27,257 0.17 1

Provincial elections

Election Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga North-West Northern Cape Western Cape
% Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats
2014 0.12% 0/63 0.16% 0/30 0.12% 0/73 0.15% 0/80 0.26% 0/49 0.09% 0/30 0.17% 0/33 0.25% 0/30 0.04% 0/42
2009 0.20% 0/63 - - 0.21% 0/73 - - 0.38% 0/49 0.23% 0/30 0.25% 0/33 0.60% 0/30 0.07% 0/42
2004 0.17% 0/63 0.35% 0/30 0.25% 0/73 0.26% 0/80 0.51% 0/49 0.19% 0/30 0.29% 0/33 0.52% 0/30 0.09% 0/42
1999 - - - - 0.16% 0/73 0.17% 0/80 0.54% 0/49 0.10% 0/30 - - 0.41% 0/30 - -

Municipal elections

Election Votes %
2011 50,631 0.2%
2006 74,627 0.3%
2000 0.3%

References

  1. ↑ "Azanian People's Organization (AZAPO)". South African History online. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Azapo, Sopa merge ahead of polls". Independent Online. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Impasse thwarts Azapo, Sopa merger". Independent Online. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.

External links

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