Abstract:
This thesis is an examination of the ways in which people in Barkly East, a small
town in the Eastern Cape, attribute feelings of belonging to the land they own and
work. In a country such as South Africa, where the contestation of land is prominent
and so integral to the political and social discourse, questions related to the idea of
belonging are necessary and important. Significant questions addressed by this
thesis are: Who belongs and why do they feel they belong? More importantly, the
question of who does not belong, is addressed.
In Barkly East a tug of war exists between groups and individuals who want matters
to remain constant and those who need the status quo to change. What stands out,
moreover, in this community, is its duality on many levels of society, which is played
out both consciously and unconsciously. This duality is also manifested through
social, racial and economic relations, and is supported by an unequal access to land.
This thesis identifies three main elements which contribute to the creation of
narratives of belonging in Barkly East. Firstly, history and the perception of history
create strong links between personal and communal identity, which in turn reinforces
and legitimises claims of belonging. Secondly, hierarchy in terms of gender and race
plays an important part in this narration, as some residents are more empowered in
this process due to either their gender or race. And three, the connection to the land
that people appear to have, plays a definitive role in narratives of belonging. Those
who feel they have a heritage in this place also feel a connection to the land. For
this reason, land for these people embody, not only the physical space of
‘somewhere to belong to’, but becomes an integral ingredient to the act of belonging
and even identity formation.
