Race contentions in South Africa: Building a 'non-racial' South Africa

Racial mayhem was predicted to engulf South Africa on March 10, 1994. That date marked the historic beginning of democratic rule in South Africa headed by the African National Congress. Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected President. To the astonishment of many, the much anticipated bloodbath did not occur. This study is undertaken to examine the reasons for the respite. Additionally, an overview of some global dynamics which seem to be connected with socio-economic exploitation, racism, and racial hostility is included. Twenty-five people were interviewed for this study. Other contributions came from correspondence and documentary evidence acquired from South Africa and the United States. To deduce meaningful conclusions from the data, three hypotheses were formulated to guide this study as follows: H1. The African National Congress' political objective to provide measures that will allow for fairness of opportunity to all races, especially through affirmative action, will create an acceptable remedy for racial inequities of the past. H2. The concessions made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for the expediency of national healing will prove far more beneficial to the building of race solidarity in Cape Town, South Africa than any measure of austerity. H3. The dismantling of apartheid will not bring about any significant difference in race relations in Cape Town, South Africa from that which existed previously under apartheid.;The study finds that reconciliatory measures taken respectively by the ANC and the TRC have shown no significant impact on race relations in Cape Town, South Africa since the dismantling of apartheid. The cause appears to be South Africa's capitalistic economic system that the evidence strongly links to institutionalized racism.