The Making and (RE) Making of Ethnic Identity: The Case of Indian South Africans

Abstract

Traditionally, Indian South African have been viewed as a homogeneous community, and presented a united front in opposing apartheid. However, the democratic era has witnessed the resurgence of ethnic and sub-ethnic identities (class, language, religion, geographic origins), Attempts to reconnect to the motherland have exacerbated these tendencies. Indians enjoyed a relatively privileged position compared to that of the African majority primarily because of community survival strategies and their rich cultural and religious heritage. The nascent tensions and conflict between Africans and Indians have resurfaced periodically, and have increased the vulnerability of the minority group, who also believed that they were being sidelined in affirmative action and black economic empowerment schemes, While those in the business and professional sectors thrived in the post-apartheid era, working class Indians increasingly feel disillusioned, marginalised and excluded from the rainbow nation