Action Should Have Been Taken to Prevent 2021 Unrest, Panel Discussion Hears

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Something should have been done to prevent the unrest and looting in South Africa in July 2021, says the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Commissioner, Ms Philile Ntuli.

Opening a SAHRC panel discussion hosted by UKZN on the outcomes of the unrest, Ntuli said in her welcome address that the event was being held to honour past leaders, renowned traditional healer, author, artist and philosopher Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa and Africa’s first Nobel Peace Laureate Chief Albert Luthuli, for their contribution and to evoke their spirits.

She said during various meetings with communities about the unrest, it was clear that apart from economic damage and destruction there had also been huge human suffering, with events connecting the country to what had happened before 1994.

It was an ‘awakening moment and something should have been done to prevent it.’

The panel discussion titled: Reckoning with the July 2021 Unrest to Address Poverty (Material, Spiritual and Relational) in our Midst which Robs us all of our Collective Dignity, was held in partnership with the Centre of Applied Legal Studies and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Ntuli said through the Social Harmony Through National Effort (SHiNE) initiative, the SAHRC aimed to commit every South African to reflect on and act in small but important ways to develop respect and harmony in their homes and among the diversities that exist in their midst.

The programme was directed by SAHRC’s Acting Provincial Manager, Ms Pavershree Padayachee and discussions were facilitated by Professor Tshepo Madlingozi of the Wits Universitys Centre for Applied Legal Studies. Other panel members included Mr Nkululeko Luthuli of the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation; and unrest survivor Mr Chris Biyela who is also the Chairperson of the Peace Committee.

Madlingozi said in July 2021, South Africa experienced unprecedented violent unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng which was characterised by looting, destruction of property and the disruption of economic activity. He said the result had been over 350 deaths as well as thousands injured, economic losses of more than R50 billion, and many people suffering destruction of property and livelihoods. He said the most important things people wanted were closure, healing and justice.

Biyela said those who committed the killings and other crimes should face the full might of the law. Damage caused was not only physical but left spiritual scars which often did not heal easily, while the government had not done enough to protect the human rights of communities.

Madlingozi, who said Chief Luthuli rose in the ascendancy after the 1949 riots in which Indian and African people died, asked why the Albert Luthuli Foundation was needed and how it was possible to build a nation going forward. Chief Luthuli’s grandson, Nkululeko Luthuli, said the Foundation worked hard to preserve Chief Luthuli’s legacy and honour him for things that were fundamental in his life, such as education. He said the Foundation worked closely with various institutions, including UKZN, to educate the youth for the good of the country.

Nkululeko Luthuli said the July unrest was a way ‘young people in the country were telling us they are fed up and tired.’

He said Africa is on a path to becoming the most popular continent between 2023-2040 and the Foundation’s role was to give the youth a spear, through education, to face the future.

Various issues were raised by the audience and discussed, including the history of South Africa’s racial tensions, especially between Indian and African communities in KwaZulu-Natal, the death of Chief Luthuli which until today had not been investigated, poverty, unemployment, the entitlement of some communities over others, and the issue of the country’s leadership.

Victim and Peace Committee representative Ms Zithobile Matyhobo said that what she had experienced during the 2021 unrest was hard and painful and as a community, they were still crying. She pleaded with the SAHRC and the government to help bring closure and for justice to play its role in punishing the perpetrators as this would bring healing to victims.

The SAHRC’s Senior Legal Officer, Ms Mateenah Hunter-Parsonage delivered the vote of thanks and acknowledged the panel and audience members for participating in the discussions.

Words: Sithembile Shabangu

Photographs: Sethu Dlamini