Historical Amnesia as a Response to the Impact of Trauma on South African Identity

Abstract

This thesis examines the concept of historical amnesia as a societal response to trauma in PostApartheid South Africa, delving into the complex interplay of memory, identity, and reconciliation. It investigates how the South Aftrican society transitioning from periods of conflict and trauma deal with their pasts, struggling with the need to both remember and forget while seeking to forge a new collective identity. At the core of this investigation is the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a critical institution aimed at exposing apartheid atrocities and laying the ground for potential healing and reconciliation. The study juxtaposes the TRC's objectives with the government's controversial amnesty policy that offered impunity to perpetrators of apartheid-era crimes under particular conditions, thereby influencing the narrative of accountability and justice. The research also looks into Thabo Mbeki's iconic speech, "I am an African," as a reflection of the pride and resilience inherent in the African identity amidst the ongoing effort to reconcile this identity with the legacy of division and trauma left by apartheid. This juxtaposition highlights the inherent contradictions and challenges that South Africa faces on its path toward national unity and healing, demonstrating that historical amnesia, while providing a temporary cover for the scars of the past, cannot eliminate the need for a truthful engagement with history. The study shows that the journey to reconciliation and identity reconstruction in PostApartheid South Africa is multifaceted, with processes of remembering and forgetting inextricably tied to the larger struggle for justice, healing, and unity. It maintains that while historical amnesia may serve as a coping mechanism for previous traumas, a society's ultimate reconciliation with its past requires a careful balance of remembrance and forgetfulness, highlighted by a dedication to justice and the recognition of historical realities. Through this lens, the study adds to a better understanding of the dynamic and continuous process of constructing a unified national identity in the aftermath of significant social trauma.