There are ominious warnings in KwaZulu-Natal that a major massacre could lie ahead if action is not taken, writes Ann Eveleth
FOUR months since KwaZulu-Natal’s political leaders declared their 14-year civil war “over”, people continue to die all over the province for their political allegiances.
And there are ominous signs that peaceful areas are beginning to degenerate. Violence monitors warn the situation is ripening for another massacre. In recent weeks monitors say the comparatively low death statistics since the province’s June local government elections mask dangerous currents in several corners of the troubled province.
The Human Rights Committee said its September death toll of 34 marked only a “slight” increase on the 25 deaths recorded in August, but Natal Violence monitor Mary de Haas said at least 148 people died in politically related violence in the past three months.
Network of Independent Monitors director Jenni Irish said the figures were “still unacceptable” and warned that a failure to act now against a gradual increase would lay the groundwork for a major massacre: “There are ominous signs in many areas of the province. Attacks are taking place in areas that were previously quiet, places that have become quiet following investigations have experienced new violence as suspects are released on bail, paramilitary training is continuing and the flow of illegal weapons has not abated,” she said.
Irish said the recent violence in Mandini combined with other recent attacks in KwaMbonambi and as far north as Jozini to pose “very worrying developments for the North Coast”.
NIM’s South Coast monitor Sylvan Chetty said the withdrawal of murder charges against eight suspects in the Shobashobane massacre case combined with the release on bail of several suspects to create renewed problems for the area: “At least 12 people have died in Izingolweni over the past three months, bringing an end to the quiet that descended when the Shobashobane investigation got under way. Violence has also erupted in KwaXolo. Alarm bells must start ringing or we will face the possibility of another Shobashobane,” he said.
Probing the deaths of three people Tuesday in the previously quiet Midlands district of Inchanga, NIM’s Midlands monitor Themba Sokhulu said four attacks in the area over the past three months had left four injured and three dead in a political conflict which apparently erupted over a soccer match between ANC and IFP members in IFP-dominated Tin Town.
“While areas like Wembezi and Babanango have quieted down, we are worried about developments in Donnybrook, Fredville [Inchanga], and Bulwer. Other areas which could easily ignite are Mooi River, Mphophomeni and Taylors Halt,” he said.
The Midlands accounted for 55% of the HRC’s September death toll. NIM’s Durban monitor Jabu Ngwane said while violence had dropped in many Durban townships, there were tremors around Entembeni in Umbumbulu and Malagazi outside Umlazi, where long-standing peace initiatives have broken down due to allegations of extortion on the past of a local induna and the utterances of local political leaders: “As a result, development initiatives are being stalled and this is exacerbating tensions,” he said.
Irish said this was a bad sign for the provincial peace initiative, as these moves should re-inforce local efforts: “It’s going to take more than a few handshakes and peace rallies. Almost every place where violence in continuing there are allegations about police involvement. The old networks are still in place and the political leaders have not addressed the security issues which are a pre-requisite to peace,” she said.
De Haas warned against allowing the “false lull” in death statistics to breed complacency. Irish added that while the withdrawal of the 30 000 security force members deployed in the province to secure the election had been expected, recent reports that KwaZulu-Natal members were being sent to fight crime in other provinces was a grave mistake: “I hope it will not take another massacre for people to realise this province remains a tinderbox.”