The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

applications had to make a biographic determination of an applicant’s veteran status. By
August 2000, thousands of struggle veterans entitled to special pensions had not received
a cent. 175
As the discourse of heroic leaders was consolidated, biographic narration and self‐
narration became regularised as part of the forums and structures of political
transformation and reconstruction. Biography was inscribed as an essential element of
public life, as a means of comprehending the order of society and the attainment of
democracy. Biographic narration became part of the process of living itself. If however
you were filled with self‐doubt along with the many South Africans who “suffer[ed] from
a collective inferiority complex”, then Oliver Tambo’s daughter, Tselane Tambo, was on
hand to assist with building “self confidence for the masses” through “the first Grooming
School in Africa”. Through courses in personal presentation, etiquette, elocution and
diction, communication skills, power‐dressing, and leadership and drive, the Grooming
School would enable South Africans to develop their “social skills that [would] uplift their
sense of self‐worth” and “project an image of power and authority”. 176 More than a school
to effect people’s transition into corporate culture, this initiative was like an agency in
person production, assisting people to narrate their lives in a society in transition.
Rituals of life narration permeated the spaces of civic life outside the formal institutions of
politics and the state, as South Africans became habituated to a discourse of survival,
triumph and exemplariness. The lives and feats of “pioneers” were honoured as part of
local heritage festivals. In 2002, in the township of Langa in Cape Town, 25 “luminaries”
among its residents, who had “contributed to the community’s upliftment” and who had
“put the community on the map” were honoured with awards amid celebrations of its 75 th
anniversary. 177 The annual Soweto Awards, billed as one of the main events of the Soweto
calendar, was inaugurated in 2001 to “honour the heroes of the sprawling township” and
175 Robert Brand, ‘Struggle vets wait in vain for pensions’, Cape Argus, 25 August 2000.
176 Sandile Memela, ‘Self confidence for the masses’, Hola, 25 April 1999.
177 Eric Ntabazalila, ‘Langa, rich in history, hosts variety of events to celebrate its 75 th anniversary’,
Cape Times, 13 September 2002; Erick Ntabazalila, ‘Langa luminaries to be honoured with awards’,
Cape Times, 20 September 2002.
254