A Tale of Two Plaques: Rhetoric in Cape Town

Abstract

This article explores the intersections of rhetoric and space in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, by locating the spatial persistence and rhetorical resonance of two distinctly different commemorative plaques. Discussion of these plaques illuminates the rhetorical challenges of post-apartheid cities. Discussion of the two plaques also illustrates the rhetorical capacity of ubuntu, a concept used by current South African leaders to move beyond the injuries of apartheid.