The United Democratic Front was formed on August 20 1983, and the historic moment happened at a Rocklands, Mitchells Plain community hall in Cape Town.
Activists such as Frank Chikane and Allan Boesak were some of the significant role players in overseeing the smooth launch of an organisation that would be the mouthpiece of the oppressed people.
In the early 1980s, inequality was fought on all fronts because of Apartheid South Africa, which was still under the white minority government. In the absence of banned organisations like the ANC, PAC, and Azapo, among others, the people of South Africa saw the UDF as their saviour.
But the lead-up to the 40th celebrations of the UDF was marred by squabbles from the leaders who formed this civic organisation. Reverend Boesak refused to attend the 40th anniversary of the UDF festivities scheduled for this month.
Boesak fired the first salvo when he said in a letter addressed to Popo Molefe: "I agree that we do need to come together in a new united front to fight the evils that have brought us here and to clarify where we have to go, and how we are to get there. This I will commit myself to. This new struggle must begin with the honest declaration that the present ANC leadership is, in its very existence, the most tragic betrayal of all that our people fought, hoped and died for."
There was an exchange of emails written between the first former North West Province Premier, Popo Molefe and clergyman Boesak. It ended with Boesak saying:" Thank you also for asking me to reconsider my decision. I have done so thoughtfully and prayerfully in talking with others.
"You say you are 'hurt' because I have 'turned my back' on 'the glorious history of the UDF'. But that is not so, my brother. I am not turning my back on that history. How can I? It has been part of my life for almost fifty years, and turning my back on it is not an option. For me, the struggle did not end in 1994," said Boesak.
During the 40th celebrations at the Rustenburg Civic Centre on Saturday, Molefe told the guests that people should not wait for the government to do things for them but rather work so that government can assist them with their Initiatives.
When the power shifted in 1994 when the black majority became the government of the day, more white civil organisations mushroomed.
These organisations are still fighting for different causes. Today we have AfriForum, a non-governmental organisation focused mainly on the interests of Afrikaners. Not only Afrikaners, though, but the group also made sure they fought for the family of the late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa to find justice. With their help, the five men accused of murdering him in October 2014 still stand trial in the North Gauteng High Court.
OUTA (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) focuses on exposing government corruption and the abuse of taxes and public funds. The organisation fought the government to implement e-tolls where they claimed no public participation. Corruption Watch is another civil society ensuring it holds the government to account.
One of the few black civil organisations to fight for blacks in the country is Abahlali baseMjondolo. The Shack-dwellers from Durban was formed in the early 2000s, and it is one of the organisations fighting for land for people experiencing homelessness.
With the UDF no longer as effective as it was during apartheid, which other black civil organisation will come to the fore to fight injustice against the black majority?
