Perspectives of a Privileged Racial Minority: Justifying Entitlements

With the demise of apartheid at the end of the 20^th century South Africa held the promise of a better life for all of its citizens. Its newly adopted constitution acknowledged the injustices of the past, a legacy of a fragmented society. To rectify this, it endeavoured to build a society based on reconciliation, striving for equality and human dignity by protecting fundamental rights in order to ensure social justice, whilst upholding individual freedom and recognising diversity. Within the context of the countervailing forces of globalisation, neo-liberal policies led to greater inequality in the post-apartheid era in South Africa. This paper sets out to look at how a historically privileged racial minority, attempts to maintain its position, and its exclusionary consequences as a result. Justifying entitlements reveal how privilege is concealed, by drawing on notions of colour-blindness, merit, efficiency and equity to diffuse perceived threats.