Philosophy born of massacres. Marikana, the theatre of cruelty: The killing of the ‘kaffir’
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Date
2014
Authors
Maart, Rozena
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
This article probes the possibility of the reasons of reason by interrogating the deconstruction of the subject – the Black man subject as policeman, and the Black man subject as miner – upon the grounds set out by the killing of miners at Marikana. The South African press referred to the events of 16 August 2012 as “The Marikana massacre” and reported that not since the Sharpeville massacre of 1960 had such force and brutality been witnessed. Guided by the murder tactics handed over by White policemen, the Black policemen shot Black men,2 one after the other, for no reas on other than to assert the authority of the right to kill when wearing a South
African police uniform. I call the resulting massacre a theatre of cruelty, which informs
my point of departure for a philosophy born of massacres. This article addresses the
salient features of what marks this relationship between the Black man who considers
himself a product of postmodernity and post-apartheid, and the Black man who
considers himself the miner.
Description
This article is a work-in-progress. Prof Maart has given three talks on different aspects of Marikana [Philosophy born of struggle 2013, as part of her keynote address at Purdue University), The Caribbean Philosophy Association 2014, St Louis), Philosophy born of struggle 2014, Augusta, Georgia)]. This article is the first written account of a particular philosophical position on which she is currently working, “Philosophy born of massacres”.
Keywords
Marikana massacre, Black men, Massacres
Citation
Maart, R. (2014). Philosophy born of massacres. Marikana, the theatre of cruelty: the killing of the'kaffir'. Acta Academica: Special issue: social theory, human rights and philosophy, 46(4), 1-28.