An exploratory critique of the notion of social cohesion in contemporary South Africa

Abstract: This article seeks to situate the increasing salience of social cohesion in the context of the transition from apartheid to a post-apartheid society. It starts by analysing the changing political and economic landscape post 1990. It pays particular attention to the role of Nelson Mandela as a symbol of national unity; this despite the fact that the African National Congress (ANC) government’s economic policies failed to have a fundamental impact on levels of poverty and inequality. But with the end of Mandela’s presidency and the inability of his successor Thabo Mbeki’s policies to also make a dent on inequality and poverty, what we have seen are rising levels of community and labour unrest. In this context, the article argues that notions like social cohesion and ubuntu have assumed increasing importance as ways to stitch together a fracturing society. The latter part of the article argues that, with high levels of poverty and inequality, commodification of basic services and mounting social protests, it is difficult to deploy ideas like social cohesion, especially when new political subjectivities are challenging the hegemony of the ANC