Abstract
When industrialization began in South Africa the African population lived in functionally undifferentiated rural settlements. As the national economy developed and diversified, the whole African population was directly or indirectly drawn into it. Thousands of Africans migrated to the urban areas to take up employment as migrant or permanently settled workers, while those that could not or preferred not to live in the cities — notably women (and children) and the elderly — became increasingly dependent on cash remittances from male relatives in town. Urban influences permeated even remote rural areas in the form of urban values and modern consumer goods introduced by returning workers, which changed traditional lifestyles and in turn increased the pressure for urbanization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes and References
Dye and Pickering (1974).
See Van der Merwe et al. (1974:27) in respect of South Africa, Higley et al. (1976:169) in respect of Norway, and Higley, Deacon and Smart (1979:65) for Australia.
Because of the ambiguity in the use of the term ‘elite’ in different studies, the comparisons with other societies do not necessarily refer to exactly the same category of people. They are nevertheless presented as a broad contextualization.
For example, America (Dye and Pickering, 1974), Brazil (Manwaring, 1978) and Norway (Higley et al., 1976:169). Among White South Africans (Van der Merwe et al., 1974:25), West Germans (Roberts, 1972:145) and Australians (Higley, Deacon and Smart, 1979:65) the elite were found to be in their fifties, while the average age of elites in Tanzania (Hopkins, 1971: 74) was 39.
Cf. Smit en Kok (1981:19).
Statistics for the total African (and White) population of the RSA are offered here and elsewhere as a comparison to demonstrate the magnitude of the difference between the elite and the general population, although the statistical base is not always strictly comparable as Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Ciskei and Venda are usually excluded due to the lack of statistics.
Cf. Smit and Booysen (1981:44).
For example, America (Dye and Pickering, 1974), Turkey (Frey, 1965:133), Mexico (Smith, 1979) and Africa as a whole (Abu-Lughod, 1967:47). In South Africa, Afrikaans elites were found to have a predominantly rural background, while English-speaking elites had an urban background (Van der Merwe et al., 1974:41). In Tanzania (Hopkins, 1971:74) and in five of seven societies in the Middle East (Tachau, 1975:297–8), elites were found to be of the first generation to move from a traditional, rural environment. This comparative data seems to suggest that elites in newly developing societies have a stronger rural background than those in already modernized societies.
See Senate Debates, 7 June 1954, columns 2599 and 2606.
Ministerial press release.
See Dye and Pickering (1974) in respect of America; Hopkins (1971:75) in respect of Tanzania; and Van der Merwe et al. (1974:54) in respect of South Africa.
Source: RSA Department of Education and Training.
See Lloyd (1966:28).
See Van der Merwe et al. (1974:84).
See Higley, Deacon and Smart (1979:82).
Cf. Peil (1982:207).
Cf. Peil (1982:85–9, 205–11).
For example, the Philippines (Abueva, 1968:278), Brazil (Manwaring, 1978, and DcDonough, 1981:58), Mexico (Smith, 1979:78), Ghana (Jahoda, 1966), Australia (Higley, Deacon and Smart, 1979:79–82), West Germany (Roberts, 1972:145), America (Mills, 1979:279), Egypt (Dekmejian, 1971:187), White South Africa (Van der Merwe et al., 1972:82), Norway (Higley et al., 1979:179), the Middle East (Tachau, 1975:60), Turkey (Frey, 1965:139–40) and East Africa (Goldthorpe, 1955).
See Wallerstein (1965).
See Hopkins (1971:70).
Cf. Sewell and Shah (1967), Rosen (1956) and Reissman (1953).
See Charton (1976).
For example, Brazil (Manwaring, 1978), America (Dye and Pickering, 1974), Nigeria (Plotnicov, 1970:278), Iran, Iraq and Israel (Lenczowski, 1975:27, 113, 186), the Belgian Congo (Brausch, 1956), West Africa (Wallerstein, 1965), Senegal (Mercier, 1965), the Middle East (Zartman, 1980:5), Latin America (Lipset and Solari, 1967:25), Australia (Higley, Deacon and Smart, 1979:84–5) and Mexico (Smith, 1979:82). Eighty per cent of White South African elites were found to have post-school qualifications, and 65 per cent of them degrees. Fifteen per cent held doctorates (Van der Merwe et al., 1974:25, 58, 84).
Certain categories of professionals could get exemption from influx control regulations in terms of the Bantu (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act (No. 25 of 1954). Influx control in that form was abandoned during 1986.
See McClelland (1963:86, 92).
Cf. Prekel (1986) and Epstein (1973).
See McClelland (1963:86).
Copyright information
© 1989 K.L. Dreyer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dreyer, L. (1989). Origin and Early Socialization. In: The Modern African Elite of South Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10191-7_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10191-7_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-10193-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-10191-7
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)