The Democratic Left Front was formed as a non-sectarian and non-authoritarian anti-capitalist front in South Africa.It’s time for new left politics, Mazibuko K. Jara, Mail & Guardian, 2009New Left would expand political debate in SA , Imraan Buccus, 2010 It was formed from the Conference for a Democratic Left launched in 2008, at an event held in Johannesburg in January 2011.Emergence of the new struggle, KWANELE SOSIBO, The Mail & Guardian, Jan 28 2011 It played a role in solidarity campaigns, most notably concerning the Marikana massacre. With the rise of the United Front, and following divisions within the DLF, the formation disappeared.
Debates
The South African Unemployed Peoples' Movement welcomed the DLF as an "historic opportunity".The Rebellion of the Poor Comes to Grahamstown , Unemployed People's Movement, February 2011 The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front expressed reservations about the entirely middle class nature of the leadership of the DLFThe “Democratic Left”: A Small Step Towards United Working Class Struggle, Anarkismo and lack of internal democracy.Towards a Truly Democratic Left, Jonathan Payn, December 2011
Campaigns
The DLF engaged in several public campaigns. These included strong support for the rights of LGTBI people against violence.Democratic Left: Call for Support of 18 July 2012 Picket Against Homophobic Violence & Killings The DLF was actively involved in the Occupy Johannesburg movement in coordination with Taking Back South Africa! on 15 October 2011 as part of the global Occupy movement.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The DLF supported the Marikana miners' strike in 2012Marikana a spark for a new South Africa - DLF, by Trevor Ngwane, Politicsweb, 10 November 2012 and was centrally involved in the Marikana Support Committee.Interview: South Africa after Marikana, Peter Alexander, International Socialism, 8 January 2013
Further reading Is the SACP Still Relevant?, Mazibuko K. Jara, The Times, July 2011 Reclaiming the South African dream, Vishwas Satgar, Red Pepper, December 2011 Comments on the Democratic Left Front, Mail & Guardian, February 2012 Mazibuko Jara: Advocate of the New Left , Reconciliation Barometer, February 2013 Left wing dips into ocean of irrelevance, Imraan Buccus, Mail & Guardian, May 2014
See also Socialism Trotskyism Eco-Socialism
External links Official website
Notes and references