The challenge of a perception of ‘un-entitlement’ to citizenship in post-Apartheid South Africa

Attempts to create a new citizenry in South Africa face many challenges. The continued use of race in political discourse is defended as a necessary evil to ensure redress. However, popular perceptions of equity policy implementation as being racialised have resulted in continued divisions between population groups. The perceived emergence of an entitlement culture amongst some communities presents challenges to the government. Within communities who see themselves as excluded from citizen rights and policies of redress, a perception of un-entitlement is developing amongst those believing themselves to be marginalised from equity policies, distanced from political influence, and, ultimately, excluded from citizenship rights. This perception of un-entitlement develops through a denial of access and belonging, an erasure of historical claims, and claims to identity mobilised around perceived marginalisation from citizen rights. It is expressed through growing hostility towards those perceived as benefiting from redress whilst challenging government attempts to create a new citizenry, as those seeing themselves as excluded from redress question their adherence to state sanctioned behavioural norms.