What is my project about?

My project aims to understand the consequences of the human tragedy that was Apartheid (the system of all-encompassing racial segregation that subjugated non-white South Africans and prevented the mixing of different ethnicities in any way from 1948-1994). Particularly, I am researching the collective national healing process that has been termed "reconciliation": the repairing of the wounds of Apartheid and formulation of the "Rainbow Nation", where all people can live in harmony regardless of their background. This process was initiated by Nelson Mandela's 1996 decision not to pursue revenge or prosecution against many of the perpetrators of Apartheid, but instead to hold a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, where individuals could apply for the granting of amnesty from criminal charges. 

27 years on from the opening of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC), I have been exploring modern South Africa, to assess the longer-term success of the reconciliation process. I am interested in the ways in which South Africa's different ethnic groups, for which the Apartheid-era terms Black, Coloured*, Asian/Indian, and White are still largely used, reflect on the success of reconciliation. Assessing the success of reconciliation is an important exercise because the model that South Africa chose to adopt might be used elsewhere in the future. Understanding whether or not reconciliation worked for South Africa could thus have implications across the world wherever future conflicts arise. 

*NOTE: The term "Coloured" does not carry the same derogatory definition in South Africa, where Coloured people make up their own distinct ethnic community, and include mixed-race people, as well as descendants of the Khoi-San ("Bushmen") hunter-gatherers who originally lived in the land. 

How have I been conducting my research?

I have been visiting a variety of monuments and museums which are relevant, such as the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg which extensively explores the history of Apartheid and reconciliation, and the Voortrekker monument in Pretoria, which describes the older history of the Afrikaner people and their distinct religion and culture (which many people argue facilitated Apartheid, with the Dutch Reformed Church playing a key role in the moral justification of the segregation laws). I have also visited townships (areas designated for the residence of one particular ethnic group only by the Apartheid government) like Soweto, Langa, and Gugulethu, to see the practical realities of the Native (Urban Areas) Act 1923, one of the most impactful measures of Apartheid.

As well as this, I have conducted a limited number of expert/elite level interviews, where I interviewed a variety of figures, including individuals who were active in the fight against apartheid, who are active in the ongoing process of reconciliation, or who represent different ethnic communities. These have included ex-guerrilla fighters; Members of Parliament, and museum guides. 

My interviews have sought to collect anecdotal evidence of the different experiences of the aforementioned ethnic groups of both apartheid and reconciliation. They have given me an insight into the experiences of the conflict that would have been impossible to find through statistics or academic articles, and have allowed me to connect personally with the individuals that I am speaking to, so that I can understand their perspectives and what they are based upon.

Challenges that I faced.

Maintaining professionality was important when conducting interviews, because some respondents told truly harrowing stories of their personal experiences of Apartheid, which in any other environment could only be met with empathetic and emotional responses. As an interviewer however, it was important that I maintained a high level of composure that facilitated an honest and productive interview. 

A particular challenge faced in Cape Town was that very few people were available for interview. The coincidence of poor weather, the final week of the parliamentary session, and the busy schedules of potential interviewees, made it difficult to arrange interviews. Nonetheless, I focussed on securing a couple of high-value interviews, and made the most of the many museums, townships, and monuments where I could spend time researching. I also used the rainy weather as an excuse to remain indoors and do some written work, writing this blog post for example!

An obvious challenge was making informed assessments of my security and safety on a day-to-basis in South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg city centre, and the Cape Flats, both areas with record levels of violent crime. While risk assessments and prior planning helped to a limited degree, I found that exercising excessive caution in the first day or two of being in a new location was very useful. By taking time to adapt to my surroundings, changing my clothing, walking pace, or even the way that I carried my personal belongings, enabled me to quickly fit in and avoid drawing attention to myself as an unfamiliar visitor. Connecting with local guides and carrying a portable source of power and light (due to the regular power cuts) ensured that I could comfortably and securely go about my research.

What next?

I will be travelling back to St Andrews in a few days time, and once I've recovered from the daunting 20'ish hours of door-to-door travelling, I will be listening again to my 5+ hours of recorded interview content, and collating my notes, so that I can get to work on my research essay and poster, which I look forward to sharing on here in due course.

Many thanks to Lord Laidlaw for sponsoring the project, to Dr Kristen Harkness (my supervisor), to the Laidlaw programme staff at St Andrews University, and to the Laidlaw Foundation.