A Historical Reconsruction of Political, Social and Economic Challenges among people of Indian Origin in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Abstract

This paper is a brief historical reconstruction, from already widely established research, of political events that shaped and determined the nature of Indian involvement in South African politics and the identity issues that prevailed among them from their first arrival in 1860. It takes the position that through diversity among Indians, brought about by class, caste, language and religion, political struggles and identities among Indians were influenced by the relevant political issues at hand and therefore must be viewed as being essentially fluid as a result of this. The information here identifies at least four periods in which the political struggles have been waged by Indians over the 146 year period that they have been resident in South Africa. I argue here that despite Indians being the smallest of the ethnic minorities in South Africa, understanding their struggles and their ongoing negotiation of identities is relevant to the broader political landscape in the country. The paper ends with a commentary on issues of contemporary relevance and future research among Indians in South Africa.