Commemorating painful experiences in a divided society with special reference to the Thokoza Memorial: a case study

Abstract

Abstract

In broad terms, this research will look into the origin of the Thokoza memorial, its construction process and unveiling with view to determine how the memorialisation succeeded in the midst of historic divisions in the township. As a point of departure, the research will seek to shed light on the violent period of the early 1990s in the former Witwatersrand area, with focus on the townships of Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus (KATORUS). The three townships are part of the former East Rand (Ekhuruleni metropolitan Council) in the Gauteng Province. The aim of including a short history of the violence in the research is to provide background information which will help the reader to get a sense of perspective on the memorialisation process that took place thereafter. As part of tracing the origin of the memorial, the research will try to determine who the actual originators of the idea of a memorial were, what motivated their decision, and how the whole idea and process were negotiated given the political divisions, hostilities and the bloodshed of the memorable past. The research will go on to look into the planning of the project, funding, construction, unveiling process and challenges faced throughout the project as well as how these were dealt with. The final part of the research will focus on the lessons learnt from the Thokoza experience.