Movement built centered around participatory democracy and civic activism

Defend Our Democracy officially launched as a civil society movement on May 27 in Illovo.

The movement is aimed at strengthening, renewing, protecting, and enhancing their constitutional democracy.

Defend Our Democracy was established as a campaign two years ago with the support of a range of organisations and sectors in response to the deepening political and socio-economic crisis in the country.

The launch included civil society groups, faith-based and community organisations, sectoral networks, and several activists.

Participants renewed their commitment to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and established Defend Our Democracy as a progressive civil society movement. Through convening and movement-building work.

The launch highlighted the key initiatives that the movement intends to undertake, including a national campaign to ensure the integrity of the 2024 elections by encouraging organisations to register election observers to monitor processes at voting stations across the country.

The work of the campaign will also include tracking the implementation of the Zondo Commission’s recommendations, amplifying the work of affiliated organizations around democracy building, and convening organizations and sectors on critical issues impacting democracy.

In committing to enabling a new politics aimed at invigorating people’s power, renewing and strengthening democracy, the launch declaration read, “Even as we declare that Defend Our Democracy will not contest elections, it no longer will accept the glib promises of career politicians and make-believe manifestoes of political parties. It will champion the hopes and aspirations of its constituent members and the people of South Africa and hold politicians and parties accountable for their actions.”

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https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/329362/charity-organisations-benefit-from-cape-1000-rally/