Meaning: The quote "Poverty and the rule of race that is called apartheid drive the Transkeian migrant from security on the land to work in the cities, and then back again" by Ruth First, a South African anti-apartheid activist, succinctly captures the harsh realities faced by many black South Africans during the apartheid era. It highlights the systematic oppression and economic exploitation that forced many individuals to leave their rural homes in search of work in the cities, only to return to the cycle of poverty and insecurity. Ruth First's words shed light on the complex intersection of poverty, racial segregation, and forced labor that characterized the apartheid regime in South Africa.

During the apartheid era, the South African government implemented a system of racial segregation and discrimination that privileged the white minority and systematically marginalized the black majority. This system, known as apartheid, not only enforced racial segregation in all aspects of life but also perpetuated economic disparities. The apartheid laws restricted where black South Africans could live and work, leading to the creation of overcrowded and underdeveloped homelands, such as the Transkei region, where many black South Africans were confined.

The quote specifically mentions the Transkeian migrant, referring to individuals from the Transkei region who were forced to leave their homes due to poverty and the oppressive rule of apartheid. The Transkei was one of the designated homelands created by the apartheid government, and its inhabitants faced severe economic hardship and limited opportunities for advancement. Many Transkeian people were compelled to leave their rural communities in search of work and better living conditions in the cities, often facing harsh treatment and exploitation in the process.

Ruth First's words underscore the coercive nature of the migrant labor system under apartheid, which relied on the systematic displacement of black workers from their homes to supply cheap labor to the industrial and agricultural sectors in the cities. These workers were subjected to discriminatory laws and degrading living conditions in urban areas, while also experiencing the constant threat of arrest and deportation if they did not have the proper work permits. Despite these challenges, many individuals continued to migrate to the cities in search of employment, as the homelands offered limited economic opportunities and often failed to provide basic services and infrastructure.

The quote also highlights the cyclical nature of this migration, as individuals would often return to their rural homes in the homelands, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of poverty and insecurity. The lack of sustainable economic development in the homelands, combined with the structural inequalities perpetuated by apartheid, meant that returning migrants often faced the same challenges they had sought to escape. This cycle of displacement and return further perpetuated the economic and social marginalization of black South Africans under apartheid.

Overall, Ruth First's quote succinctly encapsulates the intersecting forces of poverty and racial oppression that shaped the experiences of Transkeian migrants during apartheid. It sheds light on the profound impact of apartheid policies on the lives of black South Africans, illustrating the ways in which systemic inequality and forced labor drove individuals from their homes and perpetuated a cycle of poverty and insecurity. Ruth First's words serve as a powerful reminder of the resilience and determination of those who resisted and endured the injustices of apartheid, while also highlighting the urgent need for social and economic justice in South Africa.