Sport, Space and Segregation

Christopher Merrett uses physical recreation as a lens through which to view the political, social, economic and cultural history of the South African city of Pietermaritzburg. He traces successive ideologies of imperialism, colonial segregation and apartheid to show how sport was used to keep communities apart. This is a story of insiders and outsiders. Sport in Pietermaritzburg was white sport. The resultant geography provides an insight into the psychology of racism. After the imposition of group areas legislation, access to recreation facilities became a powerful cause for the city's anti-apartheid coalition. Sport provided an opportunity, one of the few in a police state, for meaningful protest.