State Capture and Beyond Newsletter

State Capture and Beyond Campaign (SCAB) Newsletter 2025 Edition

Dear Colleagues and Allies,

The State Capture and Beyond Campaign (SCAB) hit the ground running in 2025. In our latest newsletter we would like to draw your attention to several important assemblies that have taken place, supported by this campaign.

CADE: A NEW FORCE FOR DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY

SCAB was instrumental in servicing the formation of a new alliance. The Civic Action for Democracy and Equality (CADE) coalition has formed in Gauteng, in response to systemic failures in municipal governance. This is a network of civil society organisations (CSOs) and township-based civic structures rallying behind demands first articulated at the People’s Assembly on the Water Crisis on 17 January. CADE is demanding democratic control over public services.

This would involve:

Co-management of the city’s essential services by community organisations alongside ward councillors.
Ending the privatisation of critical services such as Joburg Water and City Power to prevent profit-driven exploitation.
Abolishing prepaid water meters and banning water cut-offs that disproportionately harm low-income residents.
A full audit of municipal contracts related to water supply, infrastructure maintenance, and service delivery.
Increased public funding for water and sanitation to halt further deterioration of essential services.

UNITING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN JOBURG: THE JOBURG CRISIS ALLIANCE SUMMIT

On 25 January 2025, members of the newly formed Civic Action for Democracy and Equality (CADE) coalition attended the Joburg Crisis Alliance Summit in Brixton, Johannesburg. The summit brought representatives from civil society groups, including civic organisations, in one room to confront the city’s worsening governance and service delivery crisis.

A central focus of the summit was the deepening water crisis, which continues to disproportionately impact the city’s most vulnerable communities. Years of municipal corruption, mismanagement, and infrastructure neglect have resulted in severe water shortages and unreliable service delivery.

BUILDING TOWARDS ACTION: PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY ON THE WATER CRISIS (17 JANUARY 2025)

The People’s Assembly on the Water Crisis, held on 17 January 2025 in Devland, Soweto, laid the groundwork for the Joburg Crisis Alliance Summit. The assembly brought together over 185 community members and 40 organisations to discuss the failures in Johannesburg’s water system and develop a coordinated response.

Facilitated by representatives from the Johannesburg Crisis Committee, Abahlali baseMjondolo, Thembelihle Crisis Committee, and SCAB, the assembly culminated in the drafting of a long list of community-led demands that have subsequently, through consultation and a bit of back and forth, resulted in a joint platform calling for the city to provide a Free Basic Allowance of 100 litres per person per day, and an end to the privatisation of water services. For the full set of CADE demands go to our website.

WESTERN CAPE ASSEMBLY: FIGHTING FOR HOUSING, LAND, AND WATER RIGHTS

On 15 February 2025, SCAB helped to organise a Housing, Land, and Water Assembly in Cape Town, uniting representatives from over 19 organisations to address inequalities in housing, land redistribution and access to water.

The assembly talked about uniting the various existing struggles. The hope is that Western Cape organisations are now closer to forming a joint platform of resistance against anti-poor policies.

STRENGTHENING MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY: SCAB MEDIA TRAINING WORKSHOP

On 19 February 2025, the SCAB Media Training Workshop at Atlas Studio, Johannesburg, enhanced skills in investigative journalism, media monitoring, and combating disinformation. The workshop, held with Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), focused on reporting public procurement, transparency, and corruption.

Highlights included:

The screening of How to Steal a Country, introduced by Rehad Desai, and including discussions on newsroom censorship, whistle-blower safety, and media freedom.
Training on using the 'Exert' software, which analyses 180 news sources daily to monitor media trends and identify disinformation.
Practical exercises on ethical journalism, forensic investigation techniques, and ensuring democratic editorial practices.

The workshop reinforced the critical role of independent media in promoting accountability and protecting democracy.