University of the Western Cape Faculty of Education A History of the Ottery School of Industries in Cape Town: Issues of Race, Welfare and Social Order in the period 1937 to 1968 By Nur-Mohammed Azeem Badroodien A thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape March 2001 2 Abstract The primary task of this thesis is to explain the establishment of the ‘correctional institution’, the Ottery School of Industries, in Cape Town in 1948 and the programmes of rehabilitation, correctional and vocational training and residential care that the institution developed in the period until 1968. This explanation is located in the wider context of debates about welfare and penal policy in South Africa. The overall purpose is to show how modernist discourses in relation to social welfare, delinquency, and education came to South Africa and was mediated through a racial lens unique to this country. In so doing the thesis uses a broad range of material and levels of analysis from the ethnographic to the documentary and historical. The work seeks to locate itself at the intersection of the fields of education, history, welfare, penality and race in South Africa. The unique contribution of the study lies in the ways in which it engages with the nature of welfare institutions that took the form of Schools of Industries in the apartheid period. The thesis asserts that the motivation for the development of the institution under apartheid was not just the extension of crude apartheid policy, but was also inspired by welfarist and humanitarian goals. In this regard the thesis uses the life histories of nine informants who were pupils at Ottery in the period under review, to demonstrate what can be revealed about social policy and apartheid through studies of a ethnographic nature. 3 Declaration I declare that A History of the Ottery School of Industries in Cape Town: Issues of Race, Welfare and Social Control in the period 1937 to 1968 is my own work, that it has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in any other university, and that all the sources I have used and quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by complete references. Nur-Mohammed Azeem Badroodien March 2001 Signed: 4 Acknowledgements Many people and institutions contributed in significant and far-reaching ways to the conception, writing and printing of this thesis. I am deeply grateful and indebted to all parties in varying ways. I am first and foremost forever indebted to my supervisor Peter Kallaway whose insight, superb vision and constructive guidance has not only served to inform and shape the production of this thesis but also impacted on my development as an academic in significant and tangible ways. I was extremely fortunate to have a supervisor of the calibre and considerable skill of Peter Kallaway. This and Peter’s deep integrity, humanity, patience, and friendship will certainly linger and serve to inform my development and work into the future. There were a number of fellow colleagues and friends that also provided vital stimuli in the conceptualisation of my thoughts. Here I refer specifically to Crain Soudien, Steffen Jensen, Alan Wieder, Ciraj Rassool, Aslam Fataar, and Lance Van Sittert. I would be remiss not to emphasise the role of Crain in my intellectual growth. Other than Peter, Crain is my inspiration. His vision, critique, personal support and advice will always be remembered and appreciated. My dear and valued friends Steffen and Alan provided so many insights and feedbacks that I dare say they know more about my work than I. For this I am deeply grateful, as I am for their friendship. I would also not have completed the project were it not for the infrastructural and moral support of the Centre for African Studies at the University of Cape Town. Brenda Cooper took me in at a time when I was floundering desperately and at a time when I required both an academic and social space to work fulltime on the project. By providing a room in the Centre for the years 1999 and 2000, Brenda ensured that I was able to complete the thesis. For this I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation. Furthermore, while at the Centre I developed close bonds with a number of fantastic individuals. Here I refer to the Ferozah Jacobs, Owen Sichone, Mahmood Mamdani, Sabata Sesui, Nick Shepherd, Nomani Pikie, Said Adejumobi, Abubakr Momoh, Chichage Chichage, Thandi Nkiwane, Alison Drew and Sean Morrow. These persons will forever remain in my heart and work as I navigate my intellectual development. In the same way, words cannot express my admiration for members of the staff of the Ottery School of Industries. Many of them are extraordinary individuals who perform their daily tasks in difficult and adverse conditions. They do work that many of us take for granted and would ourselves not want to do. In this regard, Moosa Mohadick deserves special mention. His integrity, critical skills and 5 astounding humanity truly humbled me. Moosa’s moral and personal support at a time when I was desperately looking for ways of understanding and dealing with tragedy also ensured that my research did not falter when I suffered deep personal loss in 1997. Moosa reminded me in his everyday practice that social injustice was an unwanted but very prevalent aspect of life in South Africa. I am also grateful and thankful for the warmth, understanding, encouragement and support provided by the principal of Ottery, Mr Allie. Neville Goliath and Nazeema Saieet also deserve special mention. In terms of funding, I acknowledge here the financial support of the Centre for Scientific Research (CSD), now the National Research Fund (NRF). The institute provided me with bursaries in 1996 and 1997 that ensured my continued enrolment at the University of the Western Cape. In 1999 and 2000 I also secured the Riochi Sasakawa Korean Fellowship, without whose generous funds I would surely not have completed the project. The opinions expressed in this work however are solely those of the author and in no way reflects the opinions of either of these bodies. It goes without saying that I would never have survived the past six years without the support, both social and sometimes financial, of my loving parents and various members of my extended family (both my siblings as well as my in-laws). My parents are really exceptional and particularly unselfish human beings whom I dearly love. Finally and certainly not lastly, I would like to acknowledge the enormous sacrifices endured by my wife and partner Rashieda, and my two sons Abdud-Dayyaan and Tajudien. They are the fulcrum of my life and are the reasons why I breathe. It has been particularly difficult not spending more time with them. This work is attributed to their love and in particular to Rashieda, who not only pampered me at my many moments of insecurity and held me together when I lacked confidence, but also provided many valuable inputs at crucial times which significantly influenced the final product. 6 Key Words Correctional education policy South Africa Delinquency and social order History and School of Industries ‘Colouredness’ under apartheid Discourse of crime and disorder Writing life histories Social injustice Policy blurring Social reform Criminalisation and racialisation 7 For Tajudien This work is dedicated to my loving brother, Tajudien Badroodien, who was murdered by three juvenile delinquents on the 5th October 1997. I can only hope that my work in future will contribute to social transformation that will reduce the frequency of such human tragedy. My youngest brother Tajudien was truly a remarkable and most wonderful person whose warmth, generosity and humility will always serve to guide me. May Allah grant him Jannah, inshallah (May God provide him a place in heaven). 8 Title Page:............................................................................................................................................ 1 Abstract................................................................................................................................................ 2 Declaration .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. 4 Key Words........................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 12 A Modern Society of Corrections .................................................................................................... 16 The development of ‘modern’ social institutions in South Africa ................................................ 18 The provision of a social institution for ‘coloured’ boys ............................................................... 20 The link to the contemporary period .............................................................................................. 21 Methodology, structure and the ‘theorisation of colouredness’ ................................................... 23 Crucial methodological considerations...................................................................................... 24 ‘Coloured’ as a social