The formulation of a democratic science and technology policy in South Africa: the ANC policy process 1990–1992

Abstract

When the ban on the ANC was lifted in February 1990, and there was the prospect of democratic elections bringing the organisation to power, a new emphasis was placed within the ANC on the speedy development of policy positions on a range of issues. A national structure was created to bring together ANC-aligned scientists, engineers and technicians and encourage the formulation of a “democratic science and technology policy”. This paper explores how the ANC Science and Technology Group positioned itself in the rapidly-changing political situation, and looks at the output produced from the policy-making process, up to the ANC's National Policy Conference in May 1992. It examines the relative impact of different constituencies and interest groups on the evolution of a science and technology policy in the South African context.