Race, Class and the Changing Division of Labour Under Apartheid

This book offers a study of the changing relationship between racial class and inequality in the urban population of South Africa over the Apartheid period (1948-1990). Building on recent advances in labor process and class theory, the author has re-analyzed existing official employment statistics to understand the impact of Government policy and employer practices on the emerging pattern of African advancement. Employment statistics are complemented by a detailed study of changes in the social and technical organization of production, providing insights into the conflicts between employers and white workers over the employment of African labor. The only comprehensive empirical analysis of the changing racial and occupational structure of the urban workforce, this study contributes completely new evidence for understanding racial inequality and economic development in South Africa.

Owen Crankshaw is a senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Studies, Johannesburg.