How centuries of division built one of the most unequal countries on earth.
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For decades, South Africa was under apartheid: a series of laws that divided people by race. Then, in the 1990s, those laws were dismantled. But many of the barriers they created continue to divide South Africans by skin color – which in turn determines their quality of life, access to jobs, and wealth. Racial division was built into the fabric of cities throughout South Africa, and it still hasn’t been uprooted.
That’s partly because, while apartheid was the culmination of South Africa’s racial divisions, it wasn’t the beginning of them. That story starts closer to the 1800s, when the British built a network of railroads that transformed the region’s economy into one that excluded most Black people — and then made that exclusion the law.
Sources and further reading:
If you want to learn more about the railroads and how they impacted Cape Colonyâs economy, check out this paper by Johan Fourie and Alonso Herranz Loncan:
To understand segregation in South Africaâs major urban centers, take a look at this paper about segregation and inequality:
For more information on post-Apartheid cities, you can read this paper by Edgar Pieterse (who we feature in the video):
To explore the history and legacy of District Six, visit the District Six Museum website:
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"Exploited colonies …" noted.
stop this nonsense blaming race again forget race and colour we live in SA , did you know Jesus is coming down to rule the earth soon? and you will be in your grave already judged for eternal life or death the second punishment death, you cannot use race like apartheid or blame White, you cannot. look after yourself and see what you can do to change and leave colors out,
This is an insightful documentary short, but the comment at the end "colonialism is over" highlights American & western nativity, that is sadly parroted by even the most progressive, that we are in a post colonialism world. The fact is we will not be until the land is return to those it was taken from. And as highlighted in this video, we are far from that. The statement used by Native peoples in North America, "Land Back", is not just theoretical, nor are land acknowledgements just there to appease white guilt, but are things we need to act upon.
I am in SA at the moment traveling around visiting wildlife places, famous wineries etc. I must have come to dozen or more wineries, many many restaurants, game reserves etc and all I saw in thoes places is white people dinning, wining and enjoying life ( white South Africans) while black ones are servants, maids, waitress, guides etc. Non of the guests in all the places we went were black SA. If there was any black person there they were Americans. Black people are there to work and white to enjoy life. That's my takeaway.
This is why Black Americanâs are on the sidelines! We FIGHT for what we get here! Yâall just ACCEPT what youâre GIVEN! If yâall NUT UP, you could live BETTER!
As usual – the backward logic. "Color of skin determine how you live". No. How about – the culture and work ethic of different communities determine their success. And its clear what culture is productive, intelligent and competitive.
Thatâs what happens when you rob a steal
Its just black culture, it really is, I can prove it, look what happen to Germany before ww2, you think money solved it? no, it was a cultural shift, both areas built by the same material, but you know who built them? blacks built on the left side while whites built on the right side, why? because white people have a higher iq and better genes to come up with what they built while the other evolved from mud huts and didnt evolve like how the europeans did, they were mostly hunter gatherers
It's called informal settlement. These were squatters.
South Africa has had their independence for over 30 years get over it !
Don't spread misinformation – do a new geographical map of where the wealth are now – not 'white people'
And now the country is being destroyed
The problem lies with goverment and mostly comfort
Good. One is netter than the other. Keeping the animals at bay. Why dont they do all those things for themselves they can but wont.
It is not race, it is economic class. Race would actively prevent class movements.
The British just couldn't be happy with their own country they just take take take
And some people are saying that South Africans are racist against whites
You know that people in townships can also rent property on the other side?? I used to have a colleague who earned more than I did. Our employer would've paid for him to get his drivers license and then he wouldve been able to earn even more. He chose not to, because he did not want the responsibility. The majority of my salary went to pay my rent and for vehicle expenses like fuel and maintenance. What was left I used for food etc. My colleague preferred to stay in the township, because living expenses in townships are wĂĄy less…in the end it is our own choice. Are we happy to stay in the situation we are in or do we want change. The biggest problem in south africa is the intitlement mentality, and the ANC loves it! Life owes us nothing, life is hard. It is like a millstone that keeps on grinding. If you can't keep up, the millstone does not stop. I do not get handouts, my parents can't bail me out. During covid the emergency fund was not for white businesses with no BEE status, we had to push through, make a plan and stay on our knees.
Because non natives came there and forced themselves the land. Why is that so hard to understand
Hmm
My question is very simple what gave Britain and the Dutch the authority to take somebody else's land?
While asian and European nations have grown and developed through hard work, transparency, safety, legal certainty, long term investing and respect; blacks continue to do what they know best: Improve at nothing and play the victim card.
Do a video on the ANC…. Why has no one done a documentary on the ANC rule post 1994?? Only pre 1994… The "struggle"
Why not after 1994 to current day on how they have run SA into the ground, that they are a fully corrupt criminal organization that steals and dismantles everything they "govern"
I wonder why no documentary has been done on ANC rule in SA?? Come on Vox we waiting.
There so many chapters, rise to power, failed state enterprises, racial laws, failed infrastructure, before and after pics of Joburg, crime rate… Captured state, billions of rands dissappear… And more.
What this video fails to mention is the white population has decreased by half since 1994. From 13% to mere 7% today…
So how does the black ANC ruled government still have racial issues and economic deparities between a rising black community on a diminishing minority race??
That doesn't make sense logically. If whites are leaving the county and the government still doesn't help the poor & inequalities… They making it worse by stealing everything for themselves.
good vs bad
This Video seems to imply that its white peoples fault that these people are still poor ? And that is just not true no one told those people to put up shacks on top of each other, the district six thing is true but no one put shacks up for them, they went and did it themselves, its been 30 years and the billionaires or rather the black billionaires do nothing to help their own people
9:50 Lady take several seats
Two totally different culture. Mix, should be limited.
This makes it seem like the British just decided to institute apartheid, whereas in reality it was a demand of the afrikaners (Dutch settlers) who wanted more segregation.
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This divide between rich and poor is a reality all over the world, with people moving from rural areas to live in informal settlements close to established towns and cities, where work is available for them – at businesses and at homes. Some of these residents in Western Cape – living in shacks, still are keeping their land (which they visit often); with animals and properly built homes; in the fertile Eastern Cape, where they had been residing permanently previously. Some are migrants – from all over Africa – in search of a better life. Some had been farm workers, who had lost their livelihood, since thousands of farmers in SA had already been chased away from farming. A problem is the lack of proper planning; to for example establish roads and supply basic services; before people settle themselves randomly wherever they please.
I am visiting South Africa and find your video helpful and well-done.