Governed

During apartheid, black South African’s were forced to carry a passbook that held information such as names, occupation, permits and residence. The passbook became a mechanism of control of movement and a control of identity for anyone who was of colour during apartheid.

In today’s world when we leave anywhere the first object we make sure to have are our cell phones. Similarly, to the passbook our phones have become an object that governs our movement. However, our phones are not as restrictive as the passbook was during apartheid. Passbooks were forced upon people while today we make a choice to have a phone.