The cover of
Author and activist Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh’s soon to be released second book, The New Apartheid, explores the concept that apartheid in South Africa never died but was privatised instead.
Mpofu-Walsh said his new book was built on that single idea - the privatisation of apartheid, which kept emerging from discussions around his first book, Democracy and Delusion: 10 Myths in South African Politics.
“I had never investigated it before, but as people engaged with me, I saw how this line resonated with so many people,” he said.
An extract from his new book reads:
“Hence, the new apartheid has reoriented urban space under the pre-text of security. A tragedy of the commons ensues, in which the self-interest of petrified citizens worsens the safety of the majority and inhibits their movement. Refuge from crime is only accessible behind private walls. Private residents’ associations, bodies corporate and property developers, rather than the state, now fund this infrastructure of fear.”
While unpacking the existence of apartheid in today’s climate, The New Apartheid, takes a step back and tries to define what the central problem in South Africa is right now.
“I argue in the book is the persistence of apartheid despite how we think we have destroyed and defeated it,” the author said.
In the book, this argument is spread across five realms of life which includes: space, law, wealth, punishment and technology.
Through The New Apartheid, Mpofu-Walsh wants to "address something that we all know and feel, but are also suppressing".
“Although apartheid is so central to our collective identity as a nation, but also our respective individual identities as people - we don’t necessarily know what apartheid is and was in all its complexities.”
Mpofu-Walsh added: “Apart from the obvious aspects of apartheid with which we are all familiar with - apartheid is a very complex idea and social system that we haven’t even begun to disentangle and grapple with.”
The cover of The New Apartheid shows the old and new South African flags stitched together, with both flags upside down - a fitting signal of distress in the present political climate.
The activist said the current state of South Africa was a warning sign.
“If we don’t summon the imagination to reshape what we are doing, this will be the start of a major and potentially fatal wave of unrest that is brewing,” he said.
He added: “We need to avoid the simplistic narrative that all of this is taking place because of some noble revolution coming from below.”
“There is desperation and poverty that is driving many of the attempts to basic survival.”
Mpofu-Walsh further enforces this by explaining that the dangerous elements of premeditation and possibly sabotage could not be ignored. It requires serious attention and intervention.
“We need fundamental reformation, and if we don’t get it, the reformation will happen to us.”
As the son of lawyer and politician Dali Mpofu, and activist, Teresa Oakley-Smith, Mpofu-Walsh had a strong political upbringing as both his parents were activists within the ANC.
“Even though everyone sees me through the prism of my father - it’s funny to me that people are judged based on the most powerful man in their lives when in fact, my mother had a more profound political influence on my upbringing.”
Mpofu-Walsh said that it was frustrating when people form conspiracy theories around what he’s trying to do, based on what his father’ actions.
“We are not in some grand conspiracy. Right now, he is giving legal representation to Jacob Zuma,” he said.
He added: “He’s represented so many people in my lifetime. You are not a political spokesperson for the client you represent. You are their professional legal representative.”
“Right now, people are failing to distinguish between President Zuma and his political ambitions and the people who happen to be his legal representatives.”
The author said that The New Apartheid was very critical of President Zuma.
“Who my father represents as a legal professional, is not linked to my political beliefs.”