Building railways and 'building character': the model villages in Northern Natal, 1935 - 1939.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Hierdie artikel spruit voort vanuit 'n breëre navorsingsprojek wat handel oor welsyn in die Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë. Daar word spesifiek gekonsentreer op die unieke verskynsel van die ontwikkeling van Spoorwegdorpies wat die landelike karakter tydens die 1930's en 1940's kortstondig verander het. Daar word gefokus op die eerste dorpies wat in die noordelike dele van Natal ontstaan het. Hiervandaan is die dorpies later, tesame met personeel, in die Oos-Kaap hervestig. Die agtergrond van die ontstaan van die dorpe word ondersoek sowel as aspekte rakende die aanvaarding daarvan in Natal. Ten slotte word gepoog om die relevansie van die dorpies binne die konteks van die Spoorweë se sg. "beskaafde" arbeidsbeleid te interpreteer.

• Summary: This article examines the peculiar phenomenon of the Railways model village which briefly transformed rural landscapes in the 1930s and 1940s. The focus is on the first villages, erected in northern Natal, from whence they were later re-located with personnel, to the eastern Cape. The background of the model villages is discussed and consideration given to some aspects of their reception in Natal. An attempt is made to interpret their significance within the context of the 'civilized' labour policy of the Railways.