PLC2602 Assignment 2
Table of contents
Essay question....................................................................3
Essay question....................................................................4
Essay question....................................................................5
Essay question....................................................................6
List of references.................................................................7
1
, PLC2602 Assignment 2
Question 1. Green Paper of Families.
Human beings have always lived in families from the beginning of time. The family is a
pillar of society, as it influences the way society is structured, organised and functions.
The family remains central in the lives of its members, from birth to death, and provides
them, among others, with psycho-emotional and economic support. The family has been
and continues to be the principal institution in society, playing a vital role in socialisation,
nurturing and care, as well as determining the conditions of social reproduction, due to
the family deriving its meaning from being both a biological and a social unit. Furthermore,
the family continues to be a cornerstone of human civilisation, because of its ability to
transmit society's values, norms, morals and mores (Green Paper 2011:8).
The Green Paper on Families aimed at promoting family life and strengthening families
in South Africa. In this paper we will discuss and evaluate factors that undermined,
especially the African family, during Apartheid. Such factors have had an impact on
African families post-apartheid (Green Paper 2011). The Migrant Labour System is the
one factor that will be look at.
Vosloo (2020) conducted research whereby he mentions that the migrant labour system
is a historical system, introduced by the apartheid government in order to get cheap labour
in the mines and cities of "white" South Africa. This was made to ensure that black people
were restricted from living permanently in these areas but were expected only to work in
these said areas. As part of this system, mostly men, were forced to migrate to places of
employment. They were not allowed to do so with their families or stay permanently in
their place of work which meant that the workers had to migrate often, leaving their
families behind.
These migrant labourers lived in hostels. The conditions in which they lived in did not
allow for them to bring their families along as they were very poor. Hostels were
2
Table of contents
Essay question....................................................................3
Essay question....................................................................4
Essay question....................................................................5
Essay question....................................................................6
List of references.................................................................7
1
, PLC2602 Assignment 2
Question 1. Green Paper of Families.
Human beings have always lived in families from the beginning of time. The family is a
pillar of society, as it influences the way society is structured, organised and functions.
The family remains central in the lives of its members, from birth to death, and provides
them, among others, with psycho-emotional and economic support. The family has been
and continues to be the principal institution in society, playing a vital role in socialisation,
nurturing and care, as well as determining the conditions of social reproduction, due to
the family deriving its meaning from being both a biological and a social unit. Furthermore,
the family continues to be a cornerstone of human civilisation, because of its ability to
transmit society's values, norms, morals and mores (Green Paper 2011:8).
The Green Paper on Families aimed at promoting family life and strengthening families
in South Africa. In this paper we will discuss and evaluate factors that undermined,
especially the African family, during Apartheid. Such factors have had an impact on
African families post-apartheid (Green Paper 2011). The Migrant Labour System is the
one factor that will be look at.
Vosloo (2020) conducted research whereby he mentions that the migrant labour system
is a historical system, introduced by the apartheid government in order to get cheap labour
in the mines and cities of "white" South Africa. This was made to ensure that black people
were restricted from living permanently in these areas but were expected only to work in
these said areas. As part of this system, mostly men, were forced to migrate to places of
employment. They were not allowed to do so with their families or stay permanently in
their place of work which meant that the workers had to migrate often, leaving their
families behind.
These migrant labourers lived in hostels. The conditions in which they lived in did not
allow for them to bring their families along as they were very poor. Hostels were
2
