Post-apartheid South Africa: A united or divided nation?

Abstract

Since the advent of a new political dispensation, the popular Rainbow Nation metaphor have come to symbolize the hopes of South Africans and the international community of various ethnic and racial groups living harmoniously in a new united and democratic state. Uniting the highly diverse and deeply divided South African society has however posed a formidable challenge. A strong drive towards nation building has been regarded as a necessary step to create a common South Africa identity and sense of nationhood. New national symbols and a changed symbolic landscape have had to play a pivotal role in this regard. Symbolic tension and conflict on various levels indicate however that divisions in South Africa society have not only remained, but in some cases have even become more profound. There are firstly indications that the new national symbols have not succeeded in winning the hearts and minds of all South African groups. Memories of different groups are furthermore still hanging from different branches as is reflected in the altered symbolic landscape of the capital city of Pretoria. The juxtaposition of the Voortrekker Monument versus Freedom Park and concomitant walls of remembrance are some examples. The chapter concludes with recommendations for creating a symbolic landscape that will represent a true reflection of the Rainbow Nation idealism and the deep diversity of South African society