Places of pain as tools for social justice in the ‘new’ South africa: Black heritage preservation in the ‘rainbow’ nation’s townships

Over a decade of democracy has brought massive reforms and advances across the heritage industry of South Africa, while bringing little change or understanding of the cultural significance of Black heritage resources in the country’s still isolated townships. Despite ten years of massive reform by the African National Congress (ANC), and the emergence of new political discourses of nation-building and Black self-empowerment, these race-based inequalities are growing. Although the Mandela and Mbeki governments have attempted to build an inclusive national identity, grassroots community-based organizations remain marginal to the heritage process required for a complete and responsible accounting of the history and legacy of apartheid.