Communities in Isolation: Perspectives on hostels in South Africa

(Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council, 1993) 0796914966. 283 x 200 mm; pictorial wrappers; pp. xi + 271; several graphs and tables. Wrappers slightly rubbed, with trace of curl to bottom fore-corner of upper cover. Very good condition. "The violence associated with the hostel/township conflict is the result of a complex set of factors. Competition between emerging political groups undoubtedly explains much of the present violence in South Africa. However, there are a number of other factors such as social, demographic, economic and ethnic issues; various structural realities; crime, and aspects of policing which impact on the violence generally and more specifically on the hostel/township conflict. Some of the key issues around hostels associated with high levels of violence include overcrowding, inadequate facilities, high levels of unemployment, and a high rate of political mobilisation which increases levels of political competition between hostel residents and the surrounding communities. Furthermore, the high level of violence is also associated with the prevailing political intolerance. More recently the issues surrounding the fencing of hostels and upgrading initiatives have also been a source of conflict. This research report, undertaken by HSRC researchers in the Centres for Conflict Analysis and Socio-political Monitoring as well as by researchers of a number of outside organisations, endeavours to shed light on these underlying factors." .