Political Economy and the Socio-cultural History of Land Dispossession, Proselytization, and Proletarianization of African People in South Africa: 1488–1770 (Part 1)

Abstract

European settlers in South Africa have had a devastating political and economic impact that has led to land ownership being concentrated in the hands of a European settler minority, and landlessness consequently being prevalent amongst the African majority. European settlement has resulted in the enslavement, subjugation, impoverishment, proselytization, and proletarianization of African people as cheap labourers. During the colonization process, European settlers subjected Africans to violence, oppression, racism, and discrimination. This study narrates the political outcome, negative social impact, undesirable cultural results and economic effects of European settlers and their descendants in South Africa. It documents the adverse results of European settlement on African people as a result of land and cultural dispossessions. The study contributes to the debate that has ensued in South Africa because of the new resolution of the African National Congress (ANC): to expropriate land without compensation. This resolution was taken by the ANC in its 2017 National Conference. The position that this chapter defends is that land must be expropriated without compensation.