The National Democratic Revolution and its Freedom Charter roots
- Frans Minnaar
- Nov 19, 2025
- 4 min read
The National Democratic Revolution remains a major risk in South Africa. It has been a disastrous policy, yet the ANC is committed to it. The Institute of Race Relations put it as follows:
“The National Democratic Revolution (NDR) is the key to understanding developments in the country since 1994 – yet most South Africans know little about it. The NDR strategy is also so destructive – and its socialist and communist goals so outdated and illogical – that most people find it hard to believe the ruling party could truly be committed to it. However, from the viewpoint of the African National Congress (ANC) and its dominant South African Communist Party (SACP) ally, the NDR has a powerful ideological appeal. It also offers the most effective way for the revolutionary alliance to entrench itself in power.”
