Customer Reviews

South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid

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As a former student of Dr Worger I can vouch for his deep knowledge of the subject. Here Worger and Clark give the undergradaute or anyone else with an interest in the subject a thoughtful and well researched analysis of a brutally repressive regime that simply did not just come out of nowhere (Africans have been oppressed in what is today South Africa since the 17th century)and will not simply be deposited on the dust heap for history. The legacy of apatheid will be long and painful for the generations that endured it and the new generations that will grow up in its shadow. Woger proves here beyong any doubt that the National Party regime was without a doubt one of the most vicious and murderous regimes of the second half of the 20th century. Even the Soviet bloc post-1956 fell far short in terms of brutality. Noam Chomsky estimates that some 1.5 million deaths can be laid at Pretoria's for the period of 1978-1989 alone (PW Both's tenure in office). I dont doubt it, Worger cornicles how Pretoria raided, bombed, and destablized all the nations of Southern Africa in a desperate attempt to stay in power. It tortrued and murdered its own Africans when they dared to protest. the work also has a very good section on books for further reading and those interested in the topic, such as myself, can delve deeper if they so choose to.

This is a fine, accurate and well-written account of 20th century South Africa.

The denunciations of apartheid and the cataloguing of its pernicious effects on the African majority provide the compelling context for understanding various key issues of public health in post-apartheid South Africa.

One easily grasps how protein anemia, upper respiratory illnesses, TB, childhood diarrhea, widespread malnourishment and the absence of clean drinking water and improper disposal of human and animal waste were all among the lingering effects of apartheid governance.

The perceptive reader will see how the lingering impact of 100 years of segregation and harsh apartheid produced rampant ill health among Africans. If you're looking for the roots of so-called "AIDS cases" in the Rainbow nation, you need look no further.