Time to stop KZN killings

SOUTH Africa, particularly the province of KwaZulu-Natal, appears to be going back to a dark and bloody period when the gun was the preferred tool in eliminating political opponents or rivals.

In the few months leading up to next month’s local government polls, at least 13 people have been shot dead in KZN. The fact that all the victims are ANC candidates in the upcoming election raises serious concerns.

It is either the ANC is a party at war with itself or it is under siege from its rivals fearing defeat at the ballot. It is not clear yet who is actually behind these killings. But either way the murders involve political figures and raises serious concern about the province’s return to a violent past many wish to forget.

The ANC has called for a commission of inquiry into the killings, which is commendable. Other political parties, religious and social groups and law enforcement agencies should also come to the party to fight this scourge. In his study A Provincial Concern? Political Killings in South Africa researcher David Bruce puts the number of political killings in KZN at 450 since 1994.

He says most of these took place in the mid and late 1990s and just under 25% (107) since 2003. He argues that “the root of the problem in KwaZuluNatal may be the militarisation of the province during the apartheid period.”

Prior to the democratic election of 1994, the killings were mostly about control of territory. But now it appears to be a scramble for resources that fuels the killings. After all, fulltime councillors earn between R457 210 and R832 197. They are also seen to be close to those who have control and influence over the awarding of tenders. It appears greed and the scramble for these are behind the killings. It’s time to act.