Understanding protest action: some data collection challenges for South Africa

Abstract

The focus of this paper is a particular set of actions which have become broadly known as ‘service delivery’ protests. It considers various protest datasets currently being used to inform understandings of ‘service delivery’ protest action. The limitations of each of these databases are highlighted and discussed in order to stimulate thinking about the possible development of independent, critical and accessible sources of protest data. Recommendations are made as to the improvement of quantitative data sources on protest action. The paper argues that ‘service delivery’ is a complex phenomenon which requires further critical examination as well as rigorous and co-ordinated data-collection initiatives. It concludes that the development of comprehensive, informed and reliable data sources can support improved critical reflections on the meanings and consequences of ‘service delivery’ protest for purposes of transformation and development at community-level.

Unpacking Discontent: Where and why protest happens in South Africa

“…13 Lastly, media reports in various languages are not necessarily available online. 14 The PPVM treats events as violent when they are described as such in the media and if, based on the reported facts, an incident may contravene the provisions of the Regulation of Gatherings Act and involve a criminal act of violence. The definition of protest also allows for the inclusion of events where violence is initiated not only by protestors but also by other parties such as law enforcement agencies or other groups.…”

Social protest action, stakeholder management, and risk: Managing the impact of service delivery protests in South Africa

“…SDPs are characterized by marches, demonstrations, blockades of roads, looting of shops, burning of buildings, sometimes hijacking of vehicles, and violent confrontations (Nyar & Wray, 2012). Damage is not only inflicted on property, and injuries (both minor and major) are often reported among protestors themselves, bystanders, and law enforcement officials.…”

Upsetting the apple cart? Export fruit production, water pollution and social unrest in the Elgin Valley, South Africa

“…Local political protests around service provision are not unique to the area and are a recurring phenomenon throughout the country. Attempts to analyze their occurrence in time and space on the basis of policy registration have limitations, as they lack specifications of the reasons for social mobilization or are defined by physical police intervention (Alexander, Runciman, & Maruping, 2016;Nyar & Wray, 2012). Protests are used to draw attention to the quality of service delivery and form an important element in grass-roots political strategies (Alexander, 2010;Booysen, 2007).…”