Abstract:
During the apartheid era in South Africa, Black women were mostly oppressed
members of the population. They faced the triple whammy oppression of race, sex
and class which prevented them from living their lives freely. These categories of
oppressions overlapped into the democratic dispensation. Although South Africa has
become a democratic Republic, Black women continue to experience the triple
whammy oppression of racism, sexism and classism. These oppressions are
prevalent among Black women in the Mankweng community of Limpopo Province,
resulting in different types of social issues. This development has motivated Black
communities to employ Womanist theory or Womanism to eradicate the triple whammy
oppressions and social issues that have morphed into challenges in the communities.
This theory considers the element of equality from different aspects of life in the
society. The aim of this study was to explore the triple whammy oppression and its
role in making Mankweng Community in Limpopo Province of post-apartheid South
Africa an unsafe environment. The study utilised semi-structured interviews to collect
and collate data. Collected data established that Black women and men have different
and similar views on the triple whammy oppression and social issues that contribute
to unsafe environments for Black women in Mankweng Community of Limpopo
Province. The study further established that Black women are mostly the victims of
oppressions and social issues. The study further recommends that black men must be
educated about the importance of women and that the philosophy of Ubuntu must be
practiced in the communities of Black people in order to have safe environments for
everyone.
