Political Mobilisation and Rise of the Culture of Violence in South Africa Exploring the Root Causes

Abstract

The decade leading up to South Africa’s first universal democratic elections in April 1994 was characterised by increasing violence. A systematic study of South Africa’s current history reveals that the government’s repressive policies during apartheid and the political rivalry among different political parties notably ANC and IFP during transition, had provided a fertile ground for the emergence of the culture of violence. In fact, this culture of violence continues to persist in post-apartheid South Africa even after almost two decades of rule of the democratic government. Moreover, high levels of corruption and links between criminal gangs and government officials in the post-apartheid period has worsened the condition in South Africa. This article is an attempt to explore the root cause of violence in South Africa and to find out government’s links, if any, with such violence during apartheid, transition and the post-apartheid period. Besides, the article examines the changing patterns of violence and public perceptions in South Africa after the end of apartheid.