Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO)

Founded: 1978.

The Azanian People's Organisation is a South African political party founded in 1978 in the Black Consciousness tradition, and describes Black Consciousness and scientific socialism as the dual pillars of its ideology. Its 2024 national and provincial manifesto, 2021 local government manifesto, 2019 and 2025 congress resolutions and published policy statements cover land repossession and redistribution, an economy in which the state intervenes through state-owned enterprises and a national bank, free public education, a publicly funded National Health Insurance, municipal energy cooperatives and a renewable rollout, reformed migration policy, gender justice, and an anti-imperialist foreign policy.

Official website: https://azapo.org.za/

Not yet reviewed by a human. These positions were placed by reading the sources below; each one links to the document it came from.

14 of 15 axes have a cited position. Axes without a published position are marked as such and are never scored.

Positions

Economy: state or market — -1.00

State-led: the state owns or directs key industries, sets prices and plans investment.Market-led: private ownership, deregulation, lower taxes and a smaller state.

Leaning towards: state-led: the state owns or directs key industries, sets prices and plans investment.

Affirming the belief of AZAPO in the critical role the SOE's can play in empowering the State to intervene in a positive manner in the economy of the country.

2019 AZAPO National Congress Resolutions , Resolution 05/2019: Resolution on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) (party_document, 2019-12-01; accessed 2026-10-18)

Land reform and expropriation — -1.75

Expropriation without compensation and state custodianship of land.Strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

Expropriation without compensation and state custodianship of land.

To reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for land reconquest of all the land in Azania for public benefit, economic, social justice and redistribution to the dispossessed black people.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 14. On Land and Agrarian Transformation on Food Sovereignty (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

BEE and race-based redress — -1.50

Race-based redress expanded: BEE, employment equity and ownership targets enforced.Race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

Race-based redress expanded: BEE, employment equity and ownership targets enforced.

Special support measures, policies and incentive schemes will be put in place to uplift Black People in education, the economy, culture, labour, business and other sectors.

Build Black Power and Restore Our People's Human Dignity , Special Policies and Measures To Uplift Black People (party_document, 2021-12-01; accessed 2026-10-18)

Labour market — -1.00

Strong worker protection: higher minimum wages, collective bargaining, limits on labour broking and dismissal.Flexible labour market: easier hiring and dismissal, fewer statutory protections, incentives for employers.

Leaning towards: strong worker protection: higher minimum wages, collective bargaining, limits on labour broking and dismissal.

Uphold progressive principles that guarantee the rights of working people to belong to trade unions of their choice and to engage in collective bargaining.

2024 AZAPO Elections Manifesto: Take Back your Power, and Fulfil the Promise of the Liberation Struggle , 5.9 On the Economy: Jobs and Shared Prosperity (manifesto, 2024-03-24; accessed 2026-10-18)

Healthcare and NHI — -1.75

Universal public health care: a publicly funded and publicly provided National Health Insurance with a smaller private sector.Private provision: medical schemes and market competition carry most of the system, with a smaller public role.

Universal public health care: a publicly funded and publicly provided National Health Insurance with a smaller private sector.

To call for the speedy implementation of a National Health Insurance that is fully funded from the general taxation.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 17. On Health Justice and People-Centered Public Care (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

Education — -1.50

State-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.Parental choice: independent schools, charter-type models and market mechanisms in education.

State-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.

To recommit to campaign for decolonised, free and quality education from Early Childhood Development through to tertiary level.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 15. On Education and the Decolonised Curriculum (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

Crime and policing — -0.75

Enforcement-first: more police and soldiers on the streets, harsher sentences, fewer procedural limits on the state.Prevention-first: community policing, restorative justice, and civil-liberties safeguards.

Leaning towards: enforcement-first: more police and soldiers on the streets, harsher sentences, fewer procedural limits on the state.

Abolishing civilian gun ownership and allowing the police and the army to be the only legal gun bearers in the country when on duty.

2024 AZAPO Elections Manifesto: Take Back your Power, and Fulfil the Promise of the Liberation Struggle , 4.1 Fighting Crime (manifesto, 2024-03-24; accessed 2026-10-18)

Immigration — +0.75

Restrictive: tighter borders, limits on foreign nationals, deportation of undocumented migrants.Open: freer movement, rights for migrants, and regional integration.

Leaning towards: open: freer movement, rights for migrants, and regional integration.

To campaign for the regularisation of migrants, especially those who contribute to township and rural economies.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 22. On Foreign Nationals and Afrikan Solidarity (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

Energy and climate — -1.00

Rapid decarbonisation: coal phase-out, renewable generation and climate commitments prioritised.Energy security first: continued coal, gas or nuclear generation and a slower transition.

Leaning towards: rapid decarbonisation: coal phase-out, renewable generation and climate commitments prioritised.

To campaign for a massive rollout of the rooftop solar, microgrids and renewable co-ops in townships, villages and farms for the provision of alternatives and reduction of the residential energy bills.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 15. On Energy Sovereignty and the Load Shedding Crisis (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

Federalism and devolution — -0.50

Centralised: a unitary state where national government sets policy and lower tiers have limited discretion.Devolved or federal: more powers, budgets and discretion for provinces and municipalities.

Between the two poles

AZAPO continues to campaign for the abolition of Provincial Governments

AZAPO Election Manifesto: Local Government Elections 2021 , 2. Make Local Government the Pillar of Service Delivery and Participatory Democracy (manifesto, 2021-12-01; accessed 2026-10-18)

Traditional leadership — No published position found

No published position found. This axis does not count towards the match.

Social values — +1.00

Conservative: law reflects religious or traditional morality, with narrower reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.Liberal: secular law, with expanded gender, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.

Leaning towards: liberal: secular law, with expanded gender, reproductive and lgbtq+ rights.

That homophobia, transphobia and silence around queer issues are incompatible with Black liberation.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 18. On Gender Justice and Patriarchy (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

Foreign policy — -1.50

Non-aligned and Global South: closer ties with BRICS, Russia, China and Palestine, with distance from Western powers.Western-aligned: closer ties with the United States, the European Union and other liberal democracies.

Non-aligned and Global South: closer ties with BRICS, Russia, China and Palestine, with distance from Western powers.

To reaffirm AZAPO’s solidarity with the people of Palestine, Western Sahara and other nations resisting neo-colonial occupation.

AZAPO 27th National Congress Resolutions, July 2025 , 13. On Global Solidarity (party_document, 2025-07-06; accessed 2026-10-18)

Anti-corruption and governance — -1.25

Expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.Smaller state machinery: fewer new bodies and regulations, with corruption handled through existing criminal law and the courts.

Leaning towards: expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.

Effect changes to make Parliament the final appointing authority, after holding public confirmation hearings for people nominated by the President, for offices such as the Chief Justice, National Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General and Public Protector

Defend Democracy, Uphold the Rule of Law and Promote Good Governance , AZAPO will Defend our Democratic and Freedom Struggle Gains, and Uphold The Rule of Law (party_document, 2021-12-01; accessed 2026-10-18)

Local service delivery — +0.50

Centralised delivery: national standards and national or provincial intervention where councils fail.Municipal self-reliance: councils and communities decide, with private or community providers used where they work better.

Between the two poles

AZAPO continues to recognise local government as the pillar of service delivery and participatory democracy.

AZAPO Election Manifesto: Local Government Elections 2021 , 2. Make Local Government the Pillar of Service Delivery and Participatory Democracy (manifesto, 2021-12-01; accessed 2026-10-18)