Whatshot
Village Voice
Village Voice
Date: 2021-08-25
Recent unrest in and around Durban
The planned insurrection in KZN and Gauteng created conditions of panic and mayhem in the major cities of these provinces.
Whilst people, mostly poor and vulnerable were enticed into looting and theft, a band of anarchist continued the destruction and burning of infrastructure.
The knock on effect was that communities, in the absence of security forces, defended their properties and communities.
Many security companies who had access to arms resorted to extreme measures to prevent the mayhem creeping into their areas.
Whilst areas like Umhlanga, Ballito, Phoenix, Chatsworth locked down their areas to prevent any destruction of properties.
Many of these areas were disciplined and kept the peace. However some of the security companies, drug lords and other civilian groups resorted to vigilante activities.
People of Bhambayi, Zwelisha, Inanda travelling through Phoenix were harassed and racially profiled. Many innocent people were killed and vehicles burnt.
These vigilantes took the law into their own hands. There were at least 38 lives lost in this fracas in Phoenix. Social media played a huge role in creating panic and anger as many videos depicting the violence went viral all over the world.
These vigilantes acted irresponsibly creating racial tensions between Indian and African communities. Fake news was the order of the day and certain quarters began these happenings as the Phoenix Massacre, whilst remaining silent on the July uprising that resulted in over 300 deaths.
Peace work commenced immediately after these violent incidents. Meetings were organised to bring about calm and stability in all our communities. We launched social cohesion programmes through community groups and the KZN Social Cohesion Council n Moral Regeneration Movement.
Acting National Minister of Health visited the Phoenix Mortuary to verify the bodies from the killings in Phoenix as some were propagating that 500 bodies were at the said mortuary.
The Catholic Bishops Conference visited Bhambayi to hear first hand accounts of the killings and unrest. The Minister of Justice Jefferys and Minister of Arts and Culture Mafu visited Zwelisha, Bhambayi, KwaMashu and Phoenix to hear from residents themselves.
Bishop Verryn is currently doing trauma briefing in the Bhambayi areas. Bishop Ruben Philip the Chairman of KZN Society of Cohesion Council visited Phoenix and other areas. A football game amongst youth from the affected areas took place at the Phoenix grounds.
The Phoenix Religious forum representing all faiths had community meetings, prayer services for peace and distributed food hampers and meals to indigent people affected by the riots.
Peace and reconciliation talks will take place amongst all these communities to bring about calm and goodwill. The ministers fraternal bought a car for the young lady from Bhambayi to replace her vehicle burnt during the unrest.
The Tongaat Child Welfare and the Department of Arts and Culture hosted a social cohesion meeting in Tongaat for representatives of Central Tongaat, Emona, Gwalas Farm, Magovani, Umbhai and Hambanati.
We all strive for peace and development, and justice must not only be done but seen to be done. The work continues to realise the dream of Mandela - a rainbow nation, a non racial democracy for all South Africans.
Let's make a strong stand against all forms of killings and destruction of properties and categorically state ?No? to racism, No? to Looting, ?No? to burning of schools, buildings, shopping Malls, infrastructure etc.
We demand justice for all.