Age of despair: The unintegrated forces of South Africa

Abstract

The creation of a new national defence force in South Africa produced ex-combatants - a social group possessing military skills and access to small arms but without opportunities to exercise their skills. Since 2000, former combatants from various military backgrounds have participated in or planned protest action to demand jobs or integration into the national defence force. To date there has been no scholarly attempt to explain the sporadic protest action by former combatants in South Africa. The purpose of this article is to account for the various protest actions by former combatants since 2000. The main argument is that many former combatants who were unable to make careers in the post-apartheid national defence force have failed to reintegrate successfully into civilian society. Consequently, some of them have mobilized to highlight their grievances. While there is nothing inherently wrong with peaceful protest action, the easy access to small arms in South Africa increases the potential for violent conflict. © The Author [2008]. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal African Society. All rights reserved.