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Selective memory about state terror, repression, police brutalities and systemic and institutional corruption under the Apartheid regime further entrenches Neo-Apartheid.
By MPHUTLANE WA BOFELO
Narratives that portray White South Africans as besieged and embattled victims of barbaric acts of land expropriation and rampant violence from savage Africans indicate the fact that Neo-Apartheid is rationalised and entrenched through structural amnesia.
By structural amnesia we are referring to the deliberate or unconscious forgetting of significant historical events, particularly those that are traumatic or inconvenient for the dominant social narrative. This selective memory serves to maintain existing power structures by erasing or minimizing the experiences and contributions of marginalized groups.
On the other hand, we use Neo-Apartheid to describe contemporary forms of racial segregation and systemic inequality that persist despite the formal end of apartheid. This highlights the ongoing socio-economic disparities and institutional racism that continue to affect Black people and other marginalised communities.
Selective memory about the history of massacres, holocausts, lynches, genocides and colonial violence, along with the disregard of post-colonial traumas, profoundly impacts the psyche and lived experiences of Black people. This amnesia perpetuates a narrative that ignores the deep-seated wounds inflicted by these atrocities, thereby hindering healing and reconciliation.
The selective memory about the history and impact of slavery, colonialism and racial capitalism, as well as the Apartheid geography and economy, serves to obscure the systemic exploitation and oppression that have shaped current socio-economic realities. This forgetfulness allows for the continuation of inequitable structures that disadvantage Black people.
Selective memory about state terror, repression, police brutalities, and systemic and institutional corruption under the apartheid regime further entrenches Neo-Apartheid.
By downplaying these aspects, society fails to address the root causes of ongoing violence and mistrust between communities and law enforcement.
Downplaying or feigning ignorance about the contributions of Black people in science, culture, economy and politics reinforces stereotypes and diminishes the recognition of their achievements. This selective memory perpetuates a narrative that marginalises Black excellence and innovation.
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Expedient forgetfulness and ignorance about the history, legacy, and continuity of inequitable access to education, training, development and employment opportunities maintain systemic barriers. This amnesia prevents meaningful progress towards equality and reinforces socio-economic disparities.
The expedient disregard of the impact of racial-capitalism and apartheid spatial arrangements on the psyche of those at the bottom of class, racial and gender hierarchies perpetuates mental and emotional trauma. This structural amnesia ignores the ongoing effects of segregation and economic disenfranchisement.
Expedient blindness to the impact of sub-human and degrading working and living conditions on people further fuels Neo-Apartheid. By ignoring these realities, society fails to address the systemic issues that perpetuate poverty and inequality.
Land dispossession in South Africa has a long and painful history, beginning with colonial conquest and continuing through the Apartheid era. This process involved the systematic seizure of land from indigenous communities, often through violent means and dubious treaties. The impact of this dispossession is still felt today, with many Black South Africans living in poverty and underdevelopment.
Forced removals were a key tool used by the apartheid regime to segregate communities and consolidate white control over land and resources. These removals were often justified through false narratives that portrayed them as necessary for development or security. The trauma and disruption caused by these removals have had lasting effects on the affected communities.
Land redistribution efforts in South Africa aim to address the historical injustices of land dispossession by returning land to its rightful owners. However, these efforts are often misrepresented as land expropriation, a term that carries negative connotations and suggests unlawful seizure of property. This misrepresentation serves to undermine the legitimacy of land reform initiatives and perpetuate the status quo.
Current white landowners are predominantly beneficiaries of historical land dispossession and violent expropriation. The skewed patterns of land ownership and control reflect the legacy of apartheid and colonialism, where land and economic power were concentrated in the hands of a few. This inequitable distribution continues to disadvantage Black South Africans.
Those who brand land repossession and redistribution as violent expropriation conveniently forget that patterns of land ownership and control in South Africa are deeply rooted in the country’s colonial and apartheid history. These patterns have created a landscape where a small minority holds the majority of land and economic power, while the majority struggle with limited access to resources and opportunities.
Glossing over these historic and material realities amounts to the insidious violence of de-historicising and depoliticising the lived experiences of a people to portray them as brutes. It is a modern form of ‘exterminating the brutes’ akin to the insidious violence of putting the colonial violence of the Israel occupiers on the same scale as the resistance of the Palestinians.
Mphutlane wa Bofelo is a political theorist who focuses on the interface between politics, governance and development.
