White Hobby/Black Opportunity: Perceptions and motivations of police reservists in Johannesburg

Abstract

This article discusses the racialised and dichotomous way in which suburban reservists articulate their motivations for joining the South African Police Service (SAPS); namely, that white reservists are believed to join as a hobby whereas black reservists join for an opportunity to gain employment. Using interviews, this article illustrates how these perspectives are tied to broader societal expectations, which are informed in and through race and class relations. It concludes with a call for further research to build on this largely exploratory research.