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

project, and a warning of the consequences of a social downfall for middle-class
Whites. They serve the role of the Other in the self-definitions
and imagination of the Afrikaner middle-class.
In Cape Town, the boundaries of racial categories are altering. The ideals
of middle-class whiteness are still strong, and well-internalised bodily
control (in work, sexuality, social boundaries and bodily discipline) is a
sign of a successful person. At the same time, the White middle-class is
gradually relaxing and opening up racially, while the aspiring coloureds
are moving in the historically White areas. Since they present the right
bodily signs and values, their existence is not seen as problematic.
Although for some residents in Ruyterwacht the present gentrification
and the moving in of coloured people into the suburb represents a sign of
decay and a downfall of South Africa, most I interviewed saw it is a sign
of the suburb’s upward mobility. The main difference is that the coloured
people will have to generate their success themselves, without the generous
help of state subsidies – or social workers.
Pamela Uys thoroughly resents the social problems and gossiping in
EGV as she feels that this was not what she was used to in the middleclass
suburb in which she lived with her violent former husband. She
moved to the suburb in 1987, since she had, and still has, nowhere else
to go.
Pamela has her pride, her whiteness and her commitment to middleclass
values. She has a roof over her head, and more or less enough to eat.
Despite the hardship she endures, she is in a reasonable state of health.
She considers herself honourable, and the other residents consider her
honourable as well, despite the fact that she is very poor.
For a poor old lady Pamela is very smartly dressed. Her appearance is
neat, and no matter how warm the weather is, she never reverts to plakkies
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a dress, pantyhose and proper shoes, and her white hair is immaculately
arranged. She pays ample attention to her clothing, trying to make the
most of the little money she has. She is appalled by the unstylish dress,
the obesity and uncleanliness of many white women in the suburb and
strives to distinguish herself from them.
She does not seek the company of the new coloured residents who
flocked to the area in the course of the 1990s. ”They make way too much
noise”, Tannie Oosthuizen, Pamela’s next-door neighbour says as I chat
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‘Plakkies’ are inexpensive rubber thong-style sandals, often used as beachwear.
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