Charles van Onselen at 80: The historian who changed history
SOCIAL REALITIES
Charles van Onselen at 80: The historian who changed history
The celebrated champion of the working classes in South African history has made a gigantic contribution towards understanding our society, writes ALBERT GRUNDLINGH.
IN current South African academic circles, the historian Charles van Onselen, who recently turned 80, has long been a household name, if somewhat of a controversial one. What is not in contention, is that he has made exceptional contributions to historiography, especially on the region's working-class life.
Van Onselen's interest in workers, regardless of skin colour, was not accidental. He also addressed aspects of Afrikaans history in informative new ways, especially as far as the dynamics of the now almost forgotten Afrikaner working class of yesteryear were concerned. His Afrikaans mother was a factory worker and his father was a policeman who, among other things, served on the White Train when the British royal family visited South Africa in 1947. It branded him as a United Party (UP) supporter, which indeed he was.
After the takeover of power by the National Party in 1948, those with obvious links to the UP were viewed with suspicion. His professional career was hampered by the Nationalists and he realised that there was not much of a future for him in the police under their rule. He left the force and entered the mining industry as supervisor of properties in the then southwestern Transvaal and northern Free State. The way in which the Nationalists treated his father gave rise to a deep-rooted and long-lasting revulsion in any form of nationalism, white as well as black. ..
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SOCIAL REALITIES
Charles van Onselen at 80: The historian who changed history
The celebrated champion of the working classes in South African history has made a gigantic contribution towards understanding our society, writes ALBERT GRUNDLINGH.
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IN current South African academic circles, the historian Charles van Onselen, who recently turned 80, has long been a household name, if somewhat of a controversial one. What is not in contention, is that he has made exceptional contributions to historiography, especially on the region's working-class life.
Van Onselen's interest in workers, regardless of skin colour, was not accidental. He also addressed aspects of Afrikaans history in informative new ways, especially as far as the dynamics of the now almost forgotten Afrikaner working class of yesteryear were concerned. His Afrikaans mother was a factory worker and his father was a policeman who, among other things, served on the White Train when the British royal family visited South Africa in 1947. It branded him as a United Party (UP) supporter, which indeed he was.
After the takeover of power by the National Party in 1948, those with obvious links to the UP were viewed with suspicion. His professional career was hampered by the Nationalists and he realised that there was not much of a future for him in the police under their rule. He left the force and entered the mining industry as supervisor of properties in the then southwestern Transvaal and northern Free State. The way in which the Nationalists treated his father gave rise to a deep-rooted and long-lasting revulsion in any form of nationalism, white as well as black. ..
Register for free to read this article.
Hello! Vrye Weekblad moved from Arena Holdings to the Nuwe Vrye Weekblad Media Group on 1 October 2022. This means that we must ask you to create a reader profile again.
For October, which C. Louis Leipoldt did not call "the most beautiful month" for nothing, this will give you access to all articles published in that month.
We hope this gives Arena enough time to pay out all outstanding subscription fees to current subscribers.
From 1 January 2023 you will take out a subscription. But for now everything is mahala! Enjoy it. And thanks for being with us again!
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Next articleAlbert Grundlingh
AcademicAlbert Grundlingh is an emeritus professor of history at Stellenbosch University.