The Bantustus: the latest strategy of apartheid colonial system

Abstract

The Bantustans, euphemistically called Home-lands by the proponents of apartheid colonial system, occupy the most barren and unproductive areas of the territories of Namibia and South Africa, and for that matter, a small percentage of the territories of these countries. the economic viability of the Bantustans is highly doubtful. These features of the Bantustans have been considered and investigated. The proponents of apartheid system answer arguments of in viability of Bantustans based on sparsity of population, inadequate and unproductive areas, scarcity of resources, with dry statistics. It is argued, for example, that the Transkei, the showpiece of the Bantustans system, has more population and occupies a large territory than a number of independent states which are members of the United Nations; that it has more qualified people than many independent states, and so the ill-conceived statistical argument goes. In this paper we will analyse the ideological basis for the creation of Bantustans. the economic implication of the system, and finally attempt to indicate the extra-territorial implications of Bantustans.