The Making of a Good White - E-thesis - Helsinki.fi

assing and common, thus sharing the ideals and prejudices of the white
middle-class.
White arrogance is commonplace. However, not all the new residents
tolerate bad behaviour.
“…And she says to me in Afrikaans, you are staying in a white area,
you can be happy you stay in a white area. I was not impressed. And I
said to her this is a poor white area, so you can be happy, having me as
a neighbour…” (A coloured lady describes an argument with a white
neighbour.)
Ruyterwacht in the middle of Spaces and Categories
It is symbolically and cosmologically telling that spatially today’s Ruyterwacht
is literally squeezed between opposite worlds. Limited by a
highway in the south, and connecting to lower middle-class Goodwood
in the north, it is surrounded by a luxurious casino in the west and an extremely
poor squatter camp in the east.
Since the end of apartheid certain spots in Ruyterwacht are regarded as
more dangerous, and the residents avoid them. On the northern boundary
of the area are the railway line and Vasco station, which are surrounded
by the Goodwood centre and busy Voortrekker Road with its multiple
shops and services. Many Ruyterwacht residents do not own a car, and
since services in the suburb are scarce, access to the above-mentioned
assets is provided by a subway tunnel. However, the tunnel is considered
extremely dangerous. Many old people described the daily fear and panic
they experience when forced to go through the subway to do their shopping.
”In the suburb, guns are commonplace for those who can afford them.
Others get themselves huge, aggressive dogs, batons or baseball bats.
Mr. B. is known in the suburb for his affi liation with the far right movement.
A pensioner, he has time to patrol the streets. Before we start
the interview, he removes a massive gun from his belt. It rests on the
table between us during the whole interview. The presence of the gun
makes me jumpy, and the interview does not go very well.” (Author’s
field notes.)
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