Intimate Strangers – Encountering the Foreign in Urban Spaces
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Intimate Strangers – Encountering the Foreign in Urban Spaces By Thabo Jerry Seshoka (s216768195) Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the degree of Master of Arts In the Faculty of Arts At the Nelson Mandela University Ethics Clearance: H/15/ARTS/SA-007 December 2017 Supervisor: Prof MJR Boswell 1 | Page Table of Contents List of Acronyms Used........................................................................................................ 4 List of Figures and Maps .................................................................................................... 5 DECLARATION of OWN WORK DECLARATION ..................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 7 Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 11 Chapter One ............................................................................................................................. 26 Understanding heritages........................................................................................................... 26 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 26 1.2 The research context – Port Elizabeth ....................................................................... 26 1.3 The apartheid city ...................................................................................................... 30 1.4 After apartheid........................................................................................................... 31 1.5 Re-making and reclaiming heritage .......................................................................... 34 1.6 Post-apartheid discontent .......................................................................................... 40 1.7 The role of global literature and theories of heritage ................................................ 41 1.8 Official discourses of heritage and integration ......................................................... 41 1.9 Theories of heritage – Heritage discourse and its implementation ........................... 43 1.10 Interrogations of monumentalism and representation ........................................... 46 1.11 Shifting/Africanising heritage ...................................................................................... 49 1.12 The post-colony, belonging and identity ............................................................... 51 1.13 Heritage management policies and practices ......................................................... 56 1.14 Critique of postcolonial theory .............................................................................. 59 1.15 Enter the ubuhlanti ................................................................................................ 60 Chapter Two............................................................................................................................. 61 Research methods, challenges and experiences ....................................................................... 61 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 61 2.2 Building on to postcolonial theory and heritage theory - ubuhlanti (kraal) and umzi (homestead).............................................................................................................. 61 2.2.1 Understanding the concept of umzi – Homestead ............................................. 62 2.2.2 Ubuhlanti - Kraal ............................................................................................... 66 2.3 Research setting......................................................................................................... 71 2.4 Choosing the research topic ...................................................................................... 75 2.5 Research methods ...................................................................................................... 75 2.6 Research paradigm .................................................................................................... 77 2.7 Sample and access to the space ................................................................................. 77 2.8 Research participants................................................................................................. 78 2 | Page 2.9 Research methods ...................................................................................................... 86 2.9.1 Participant observation....................................................................................... 86 2.9.3 Ontology and epistemology ............................................................................... 87 2.9.4 Reflection: Challenges and solutions ................................................................. 88 2.10 Reflection............................................................................................................... 89 2.11 Ethics ..................................................................................................................... 90 Chapter Three........................................................................................................................... 92 Govan Mbeki – Vuysile Mini Square – Heritage and Postcolonial Space .............................. 92 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 92 3.2 Market Square – Vuyisile Mini Square ..................................................................... 94 3.3 Govan Mbeki Avenue: Heritage site or migrant Site? .............................................. 99 3.4 Vuyisile Mini Square: Heritage preservation or poverty alleviation?..................... 105 3.5 Unpacking the dynamics of Vuyisile Mini – Market Square .................................. 110 Chapter Four .......................................................................................................................... 119 Holding Heritage Hostage: The destruction of heritage in Port Elizabeth ............................ 119 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 119 4.2 Establishing a link between heritage and poverty ................................................... 121 4.3 Heritage, poverty and migration.............................................................................. 123 4.3.1 Walter Sisulu Square, Johannesburg................................................................ 131 4.3.2 Red Location Museum, Port Elizabeth ............................................................ 132 4.4 Inclusion and exclusion ........................................................................................... 133 4.4.1 Statue of Queen Victoria .................................................................................. 135 4.4.2 Horse Memorial ............................................................................................... 138 Chapter Five ........................................................................................................................... 148 The market area - temporary heritage and political expressions (xenophobia and violence) 148 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 148 5.2 Contextualising New Brighton ................................................................................ 148 5.3 Unpacking Xenophobia in New Brighton – Conflicting interests and dynamics ... 149 5.4 Green bushes – Xenophobic experiences at the market .......................................... 156 5.5 Unpacking exclusion and the management of the ubuhlanti .................................. 162 Chapter Six............................................................................................................................. 167 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 167 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 167 6.2 Using ubuhlanti to unpack the data ......................................................................... 170 Chapter seven ......................................................................................................................... 185 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 185 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 189 3 | Page List of Acronyms Used ANC African National Congress ECPHRA Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Agency EFF Economic Freedom Fighters MEC Member of Executive Council MP Member of Parliament MPL Member of Provincial Legislature NMBM Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan NMBDA Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency NMMU Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University PE Port Elizabeth PHRAG Provincial Heritage Resource Agency