The Johannesburg Democratic Action Committee (JODAC) was formed after the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1983 as an organisation for the people of Johannesburg who wanted to be part of the UDF. JODAC, as a UDF affiliate, took the responsibility for furthering the principle of non-racialism by providing opportunities for whites to join in the struggle against apartheid.

JODAC played a major role in UDF's 'call to Whites' campaign in 1986. At the time when the democratic organisations were hard hit by the State of Emergency, and forced to play a less public role, JODAC managed to maintain itself as an organisation and continued to be a voice and a link with the rest of the Democratic Movement in broader forums such as the ECC and Five Freedoms Forums.

When the UDF was restricted, JODAC as an organisation was not. It continued to build the Democratic Movement, introduced it to the people of Johannesburg, hosted regular political forums, organised debates around issues of the day, and provided news and views on what was happening in the extra-parliamentary terrain.

JODAC had committees such as an Anti-Militarisation Group, which linked with other organisations concerned with the issue. The Cultural Forum concerned itself with the idea of building a progressive culture. It had close relations with similar cultural groups from COSATU and Soweto and with progressive organisations in various cultural disciplines.

JODAC also played a bigger role in the co-ordination of similar organisation nationally through the National Co-ordinating Committee. This was a co-ordinating committee of white organisations affiliated or sympathetic to the UDF. It co-ordinated activities and relations of organisations such as the Durban Democratic Association, Pietermaritzburg Democratic Association, East London Action Forum, Cape Democrats and Port Elizabeth Action Committee.

After the unbanning of the liberation movements in 1990, JODAC disbanded. Since most JODAC members were both members and supporters of the African National Congress (ANC), they then joined the legally constituted ANC.