Race, class and comfort on rural buses, 1925 - 1955.

Abstract

• Opsomming: In 1912 het die Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë 'n padmotordiens ingestel vir passasiers en ligte vrag in die yl bevolkte platteland waar min verkeer nie spoorverbindings geregverdig het nie. Blanke passasiers het geriefliker as swartes gereis, 'n voorreg wat hulle vurig beskerm her. Dit was veral die opgevoede, middelklas swart passasiers wat kapsie gemaak het teen die swak toestande waaraan hulle blootgestel was. Hulle het aangedring op betel geriewe wat hul hoër status sou weerspieël. Te midde hiervan het die Spoorweë dit moeilik gevind om 'n diens te bedryf wat al sy kritici tevrede sou stel en, ondanks die wisselende vraag, tog ekonomies lewensvatbaar bly.

• Summary: In the country areas where sparse settlement and light traffic did not warrant the construction of railways, the South African Railways operated a road transport service for passengers and small freight since 1912. White passengers were accommodated more comfortably than blacks, and protected their privilege fiercely. Educated, middle-class black passengers in particular objected to the rough physical conditions under which they travelled, and requested superior facilities that would reflect their higher social standing. The Railways struggled to operate a service that would satisfy its critics, yet be financially viable in the face of fluctuating demand.