Migrant Labour
Apartheid did not begin as apartheid but as a divine religious belief of the early Dutch settlers to South Africa in 1652. The Dutch religious doctrine of that time preached that God had elected a chosen people (Giniewski, 1965), which the Dutch believed were themselves. This dogma preached that there should be no unity between the different races, but segregation of the races(Giniewski, 1965) and that Christians "whites" were given official authority/guardian ship over the natives (Blacks, Indians and Asians)(Giniewski, 1965). This is where the seed of segregation was planted and the unequal development of the races with in South Africa began( Browett,1982). Segregation formed the foundation for what we know now as apartheid and all of its constructs. One of the crucial construct of the development of South Africa was the creation of the migrant labor force. This essay will focus on the crucial role the migrant labour system had in the development of the South African economy and its detrimental effects on the South African family and the South African child. To completely understand the impact that migrant labor has had on the African family and child. It must first be understood why the migrant labor force was creat
With he changing kind of economic direction toward a manufacturing/ industrialized nation and the ever emerging capitalist economy. Those in power had to ensure the advancement of their economic base and as the sastainment of the base of their economy the migrant labor force. John Browett in "The evolution of unequal development within South Africa" also expressed the view of the importance of South Africa in sustaining its" capitalist mode of production, their white privilege and power along with the exploitation of black labor as a continued supply of cheap labor in order to continue their level of capital accumulation"(Browett,1982). The manner in which they ensured their continual economic advancement was through the implementation of the apartheid system. Through the creation of laws that prohibited blacks from living in urban areas which was the primary source of labour. Giving blacks rights only to live in reserves that would require them to migrate to the urban center for work or other areas that provided employment. Which would mean fathers and mothers would have to leave their families behind in order to financially provide for them. The manner in which the migrant labor force was created to function has had a devastated effect on the South African family and the South African child. This destruction was achieved for the preservation and advancement of the economic, political and position of power that whites held within South Africa (Unecso, 1972). This view has also been expressed by others such as Wilson and Ramphele authors of Children on the Front Line: The impact of apartheid, destabilization and war era on children in southern and South Africa(1989). Wilson and Ramphele viewed migrant labor as a major contributor to the destruction of the African family. They also viewed it as the hammer that broke the very last stronghold of the African people not eliminated by colonialism, their families. "Decreased production of the mines and the pre-capitalist mode of production"(Smith,1982), created a problem within the labor reserve. Which had now progressed to having three primary functions. One function of the reserve was a means of cheaply producing a black labor force. Secondly it was a dumping ground for surplus blacks no longer required by the white economy, in urban areas and thirdly as a means of keeping segregation policies between whites and blacks a live and well. It is parents that carry the guidance that is necessary to ensure that children grow up to be productive members of society. When this guidance is absent in a child's growing years, a child does not learn the basic building blocks of love, trusts, respect and honesty.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2338
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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