Warfare in the Midlands

HERE is a lovely road which runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it.” This is one of the most famous opening paragraphs of one of the most famous South African novels – by Alan Paton.

The Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal lie in one of the most scenically beautiful parts of the province.

It is also one of the most dangerous regions – especially in times of political contestation.

From about 1987 to 1990, more than 2000 people died in political violence between supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party and the United Democratic Front.

This was more deaths than occurred in 20 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

It’s not surprising therefore that, even 30 years later, many residents of the area greet political canvassing with great trepidation.

In KwaZulu-Natal, people die during political campaigns. And in the Midlands of the province more people tend to die.

While, in the late 1980s, the fight to the death tended to involve sworn enemies, these political assassinations appear to be between members of the same party – the ANC.

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has dusted off the clichés and has warned that the police will leave no stone unturned to apprehend, charge, try and jail anyone involved in political violence. But his warning will make no difference. The shootings will continue, and the death toll will mount.

Last week, former ANC Youth League secretarygeneral Sindiso Magaqa, and two other politicians from the Harry Gwala region, were shot and wounded at a shop in Umzimkhulu.

Magaqa was the ANC Youth League secretary general before the league was disbanded in 2012.

Although the ANC in the province was expected to give Jacob Zuma strong support, this has not proved to be the case.

A number of other top officials, with eyes on the presidency, have fared surprisingly well, in addition to the two regarded as frontrunners – Cyril Ramaphosa and former AU Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

We hope that debates will be won and lost on the strengths or weaknesses of the candidates’ messages – and certainly not with guns.