Die armblanke-vraagstuk in Port Elizabeth, 1916 - 1934: 'n verkennende studie.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Groot getalle verarmde landelike Afrikaners het vanweë plattelandse verarming en stedelike industrialisasie na die stad getrek. Die armblankes was veral ongeskoolde en mindergeskoolde arbeiders. Blanke werkloosheid het gedurende die twintiger- en dertigerjare groot afmetings in Port Elizabeth aangeneem. Slegs 'n klein persentasie blankes het hul eie huise besit. Oorbewoning was algemeen en plakkerstoestande het in die periferiegebiede van Korsten en Sidwell geheers. Dít het tot swak gesondheidstoestande gelei. Gemeenskapsarmoede het die Afrikaner in die stad ook op onderwysgebied geknel. Daar het gevolglik by baie verarmde Afrikaners 'n minderwaardigheidsgevoel posgevat.

• Summary: Two factors were mainly responsible for the impoverished rural Afrikaner's trek to the city, namely rural impoverishment and urban industrialisation. Most of the poor whites were unskilled or semi-skilled workers. White unemployment was rife in Port Elizabeth during the 1920's and 1930's. Only a small percentage of the whites owned their own homes. Overcrowding was a common phenomenon. Korsten and Sidwell was in actual fact one big slum. The health conditions were shocking. Community poverty also adversely affected the urban Afrikaner as regards education. Many impoverished Afrikaners in the city thus developed a feeling of inferiority.