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

to the authorities. As soon as they have this house paid, they will look
for a bigger house in a better area – Thornton perhaps.” (Author’s
field notes.)
This is thus in accordance with Douglas’ observations that Group A and
Group C are the most prone to worry about ”subversion, arbitrariness
and anarchy” (Douglas 1996: 46). Group A also tends to be at odds with
Group C, occasionally challenging it. However, under duress, they are
also prone to form alliances because of their mutual approval of authority.
Middle-class homes in the present South Africa are well fortified and
protected. One spatial marker unified houses of groups A and C: During
my fieldwork a new yard type was emerging around the privately owned
houses. These houses now boasted fences and protective vegetation. Grey
vibracrete walls 188 have sprung up around the yards, which are patrolled
by vicious boerboel dogs (pit bull terriers). These yards belonged to the
Group A and Group C residents.
When applying Douglas’ scheme to Ruyterwacht, tiny Group D is
closest to what is usually called ‘verligte Afrikaners’. Still holding on
to their Afrikaner group identity, they are more modern and egalitarian
than those identifying with the hierarchists, but are equally conscious of
their social status. They have a sense of belonging with Group C (and, to
a point, with B), but not necessarily with their political conservatism and
bodily concerns. Sometimes they are displaced and disillusioned Afrikaners
who criticise their roots while staying emotionally deeply attached
to them. Their position in the low-grid end while still being on the highgroup
side is sometimes tricky, because the pull of both the demands of
the ‘New South Africa’ and previous loyalties can be contradictory.
Their homes are similar to Stellenbosch middle-class homes, being
fashionably decorated, yet with a sense of tradition. For example, the
walls can be painted in strikingly bright colours such as orange, yellow
and turquoise, or these colours can be used in other decorations, and com-
188 To my inquiry regarding this often-seen material used as fences, I received the following
email from a middle-class South African friend: “The stuff is called vibracrete and
it’s a kind of cement mixture - not very strong, when they fall they break! Middle-class
SAfricans hate the stuff – very, very indicative of the “lower” classes even if they are
“passing” for upper class! This reminds me of my one Dutch cousin who once told me
one could tell which class a Dutch person was by the size of his/her shoes’ soles - at least
Vibracrete is easier to determine!!!!” (E-mail: 3.9.2002).
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