APARTHEID NOSTALGIA

This research paper examines the phenomenon of 'apartheid nostalgia' among residents of Soweto, South Africa, specifically regarding personal security and policing. Based on approximately 80 interviews, the author explores why many residents perceive the apartheid era as safer and more orderly than the post-apartheid period, despite the documented brutality of the regime. The paper contrasts these personal testimonies with historical evidence of township crime and analyzes the perceived failures of the post-apartheid South African Police Service (SAPS).

• A significant number of Soweto residents aged 30 to 82 perceive the apartheid era as being safer than the post-apartheid period, with some specifically identifying the 1950s and 1960s as particularly safe.
• While many interviewees recall the apartheid period as virtually crime-free, historical evidence from newspapers, government reports, and academic analyses indicates that Rand townships suffered from violent crime as early as the 1940s.
• Respondents often attribute the perceived lower crime rates during apartheid to the effectiveness and strictness of the South African Police (SAP), despite acknowledging the force's oppressive and racist nature.
• The post-apartheid South African Police Service (SAPS) is viewed by respondents as more respectful and approachable than the SAP, but is heavily criticized for widespread corruption and incompetence.
• Some residents believe that the increase in crime in the new South Africa is linked to the abolition of the death penalty and the introduction of human rights legislation, which they perceive as protecting criminals over law-abiding citizens.
• The proliferation of firearms and the influx of foreigners are cited by respondents as contributing factors to the rise in violent crime in post-apartheid townships.
• The perception of the apartheid era as a time of security is not shared by those who were actively involved in the liberation struggle, such as former ANC activists, who viewed the SAP as 'killing machines'.

APA

Kynoch, G. (2003). APARTHEID NOSTALGIA. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/01-sep-2003-sacq-no-5/apartheid-nostalgia

Chicago

Kynoch, Gary. APARTHEID NOSTALGIA. Institute for Security Studies, 2003. https://issafrica.org/01-sep-2003-sacq-no-5/apartheid-nostalgia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kynoch |first1=Gary |title=APARTHEID NOSTALGIA |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=1 September 2003 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-sep-2003-sacq-no-5/apartheid-nostalgia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kynoch2003apartheid, author = {Kynoch, Gary}, title = {{APARTHEID NOSTALGIA}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2003}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-sep-2003-sacq-no-5/apartheid-nostalgia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }