The killing fields of kzn

Local government elections, violence and democracy in 2016

Mary de Haas* [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2016/v0n57a456

This article explores the intersections between party interests, democratic accountability and violence in KwaZulu-Natal. It begins with an overview of the legacy of violence in the province before detailing how changes in the African National Congress (ANC) since the 2007 Polokwane conference are inextricably linked to internecine violence and protest action. It focuses on the powerful eThekwini Metro region, including intra-party violence in the Glebelands hostel ward. These events provide a crucial context to the violence preceding the August 2016 local government elections. The article calls for renewed debate about how to counter the failure of local government.

In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the province dubbed the Glebelands hostel ward. Crucially, it also the ‘killing fields’ in the early 1990s, all post- contextualises the violence that preceded the 1994 elections have been marked by intimidation August 2016 local government elections. and violence. In the past decade intra-party Political violence 1994–2015 conflict, especially over the nomination of local government ward candidates, has increased. The violence that engulfed KZN in the 1980s In 2011 the conflict within the African National and early 1990s continued for several years Congress (ANC) went beyond individual after the 1994 elections, with an estimated competition and was symptomatic of increasing 4 000 deaths between May 1994 and December factionalism within the party itself. 1998.1 Most of the violence occurred between the ANC and the (IFP), This article explores the legacy and current but in the Richmond area in particular many manifestations of violence in the province, and deaths were linked to internecine ANC violence includes a focus on the powerful eThekwini before and after it expelled warlord Sifiso Metro region and the intra-party violence in Nkabinde in 1997.2

Elections have since been periods of tension, * Prior to her retirement in 2002 Mary de Haas was a senior lecturer and programme director in the department Social Anthropology requiring the presence of state security in volatile at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). She is currently an areas. The first local government elections in Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Law, UKZN. Her KZN November 1995 were delayed in KZN until May Monitor website, www.violencemonitor.com, contains reports on violence and human rights abuses in the province. 1996, and necessitated the deployment of the

SA Crime Quarterly No. 57 • SEPTEMBER 2016 43 South African National Defence Force (SANDF).3 within ANC branches in KZN in the run-up to Inter-party conflict has diminished since then, Polokwane.10 Those interviewed were adamant but still occurs.4 that provincial party lists at the Polokwane Violence is not limited to election periods. For conference had been tampered with to exclude example, between 2010 and 2012 at least 41 members not overtly supportive of now President politically linked individuals were killed in the , but that this had been reported province.5 The murders were most common in to the ANC national office. Fears of increased 11 the KwaMashu and hostels in , violence were repeatedly expressed. and in Umtshezi in Estcourt in the Midlands. The election of Zuma to national office in 2008 In early 2011 the New Freedom Party (NFP), played a pivotal role in shaping provincial and headed by Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, broke away municipal politics, and in struggles related to the from the IFP. According to NFP figures, about national leadership of the party and government. 60% of the victims of violence during this period In KZN, Zulu ethnicity has long been entwined 6 were NFP supporters. with politics.12 It is likely that Zuma’s leadership An IFP-supporting hostel in KwaMashu was contributed to the province’s increased support another site of violence. Here the victims for the ANC in the 2009 elections, despite were IFP and NFP supporters, as well as its slight decline in support nationally.13 ANC ANC supporters.7 membership in KZN is higher than in other provinces.14 In Umtshezi, victims included supporters of the IFP, the NFP and the ANC, some killed by The 2011 local government elections in KZN members of their own parties.8 were marked by conflict over nominations and allegations of manipulation of party lists. Threats However, it is not always possible to clearly and intimidation were rife. Protests continued delineate political violence. For example, in after the elections, and led to the establishment Umtshezi political violence overlaps with taxi industry conflicts, while in KwaMashu it can be of an inquiry headed by Nkosazana Dlamini difficult to separate political killings from other, Zuma, which found that 11 councillors had criminally motivated murders. The distinction been fraudulently elected. One of them, Zandile becomes particularly difficult to make when Gumede, was to play a prominent role in factional political office-bearers have business interests, struggles in eThekwini. Despite promises by such as in the taxi industry. In addition, the use national leadership that individuals elected in this of ‘hitmen’ means that even where assassins way would be dismissed, it appears that only one 15 are caught, it can be difficult to ascertain who by-election was ever held. hired them, or why. After the 2014 elections, the then KZN , Trouble in the ANC: 2007–2015 , was deployed as ANC treasurer- general. His position as premier was filled by Paulus Zulu and Adam Habib have pointed the then party chairperson, . By to increased factionalism and polarisation then there were two clear factions in the party, in the ANC since the party’s 2007 one owing allegiance to Senzo Mchunu and the 9 Polokwane conference. other to Willies Mchunu (no relation). The Senzo Interviews I conducted with long-standing faction reportedly supported Deputy President ANC members at the time revealed serious , while the faction behind Willies tensions and a climate of threat and intimidation Mchunu supported Zuma.16

44 Institute for Security Studies & University of Cape Town The years 2014 and 2015 were marked by of the Sisonke District Municipality, Mandla tensions between these factions.17 However, Ngcobo, has since been persecuted. After he the struggles were also noticeable in other approached the high court in an attempt to stop numerically powerful regions such as uMsunduzi an irregular payment involving millions of rands (Pietermaritzburg) and the Musa Dladla region to a security company, the ANC instituted party around Richards Bay. Tensions increased and municipal disciplinary charges against him following the July 2015 revenge killing of one for bringing the party into disrepute. Ngcobo is of the premier’s bodyguards, after Senzo no longer speaker and was not re-nominated Mchunu’s faction was accused of orchestrating as councillor. At the time of writing, in August the death of regional chairperson and uMhlatuze 2016, he and Thabiso Zulu claimed to be living municipality Mayor Thulani Mashaba. Mashaba in fear of their lives.21 had been accused of removing the municipality’s previous mayor, Elphas Mbatha.18 The politics of eThekwini Metro, 2007–2015 A close associate of Willies Mchunu, , was elected ANC KZN chairperson in In 2008 Sbusiso Sibiya was elected regional November 2015 after an election in which the secretary of the party’s biggest and most results were contested. This created two centres influential power bloc. This is an important of power, one held by the premier and the position, given that the metro has 110 branches other by the regional chairperson. The following and a massive budget – R39 billion in the month key Zikalala backer Zandile Gumede beat 2015/16 financial year with a projected increase incumbent mayor James Nxumalo to become to a record R41.7 billion in the draft 2016/17 22 the party’s eThekwini regional chairperson.19 budget. A person in this position has the power to make decisions about the deployment Allegations of fraud and manipulation were of party members to key positions. made, leading to factions taking control of local municipalities. In the Harry Gwala region, When he was elected Sibiya had a reputation Thabiso Zulu, former ANC Youth League for taking a strong stand against corruption. (ANCYL) leader and regional secretary, alleged According to political journalist Sipho Khumalo, that the 2008 conference to elect ANCYL it was well known that the region’s ANC leadership in the region was manipulated chairperson, John Mchunu, who held the reins by a powerful grouping.20 Zulu alleged that of power until his death in 2010, and Sibiya this faction siphoned off millions of rands did not like each other. Mchunu had dispensed of local and district municipality funds and patronage using the metro’s resources, and engaged in various other corrupt acts. Despite allegedly played a pivotal role in using the documentation confirming this, and an audit region’s voting power to build support for Zuma report allegedly revealing almost R400 million in ahead of Polokwane.23 irregular or unauthorised expenditure over two On 11 July 2011 Sibiya was assassinated years, no action was taken against the three as he arrived back at his Inanda home after men behind the faction. At the time of writing, a meeting. His close associate, councillor this case was under investigation by the Special Wiseman Mshibe, had been similarly gunned Investigations Unit (SIU) and the South African down at his Durban home in March that Police Service (SAPS). year. The assassination of Sibiya took place The man who blew the whistle on the alleged ahead of crucial regional and provincial ANC looting referred to by Zulu, the then speaker conferences, and his supporters believed that

SA Crime Quarterly No. 57 • SEPTEMBER 2016 45 he had stood in the way of those who sought to use tenders to gain personal wealth.24 Case study: Glebelands hostel29

A former taxi operator turned construction During colonial and apartheid times single company owner was charged with Sibiya’s sex hostels were built to house many murder. However, in March 2014 charges hundreds of thousands of workers in what against him were withdrawn following the death were defined as ‘white’ areas, especially in of the only ‘substantial witness’.25 There has cities and on mines. These workers were also been no conviction in the Mshibe case. barred from settling in urban areas with their families through increasingly repressive Allegations of corruption in eThekwini were influx control legislation. supported by forensic audit findings. A report by Ngubane & Associates highlighted irregularities Lying just outside the entrance to southern in procurement and irregular expenditure of Durban’s Umlazi township is Glebelands over R500 million for 2008/09. The MEC for hostel. Like all other Durban hostels, local government (COGTA) appointed Manase this one has been administered by the & Associates to do a follow-up forensic audit for municipality since the late 1990s. the period ending January 2012. The population of the hostel is estimated The findings of the Manase report were to be between 15 000 and 20 000, most damning, confirming grossly irregular housed in approximately 48 four-storey procurement procedures and blatant conflict of blocks, many with shared rooms and interest transactions. It documented a cavalier communal bathrooms and kitchens. disregard for proper procedures in awarding However, there are also newer smaller contracts, especially in the construction industry, blocks let as family accommodation and, and alleged a ‘manipulation’ of contracts in according to a government representative, favour of certain service providers (including a the total number of blocks is now 72 prominent ANC member) at meetings chaired by (although according to some counts there senior Housing Department employees.26 are more).30

Despite the municipality supposedly increasing Historically the complex has been an ANC controls over irregular expenditure, reports for support base. During the intense conflict the first three quarters of the 2013/14 financial in the townships in the early 1990s, IFP- year showed that over a quarter of contracts supporting residents of Umlazi Section T awarded, amounting to R1.722 billion, had hostels attempted to attack Glebelands used the same loophole that previously allowed hostel on more than one occasion. The contracts to be unfairly awarded.27 nature of the conflict changed in the late 1990s when dozens of residents were This corruption has affected poor communities murdered in intra-ANC conflict. Between and increased tensions. Poor communities have the late 1990s and 2013 the hostel was accused councillors of dispensing houses and largely free of political violence, except public works employment opportunities to their for a brief period in 2008 when there supporters.28 were attacks on, and evictions of, people The Glebelands hostel is an extreme example who joined the Congress of the People of the malaise affecting local government in Party (COPE). Most COPE supporters KZN. Here at least 60 people have been killed in subsequently returned to the ANC.31 politically linked violence since March 2014.

46 Institute for Security Studies & University of Cape Town Local leadership within the complex was A detailed analysis of the deaths and provided by elected block committees with displacements by independent human executive structures. Similar structures have rights activist Vanessa Burger shows that long been a feature of hostel life, where they the overwhelming majority of the victims have played a role in room allocation.32 were linked to block structures in some way, as officials, close associates, wives or The recent troubles began in June 2013, girlfriends. At least four of those murdered when a large group of hostel residents – Themba Pina, Sandile Mteshane, Thulani blockaded streets around the complex to Kathi and William Mtembu – had been protest against councillor Robert Mzobe, among the dissatisfied ANC members who who replaced councillor Vusi Zweni who had brought the vote of no confidence joined COPE in 2009. They alleged that in Mzobe. Two other residents who ‘[Mzobe] did not consult with them on had indicated their willingness to stand developments in the area and was a as candidates in the local government dictator’. He was accused of dividing and elections were also among those who died. failing to show respect for the community, and irregularly allocating RDP houses. The The rooms of those who had been evicted leader of the protest, Themba Pina, accused were re-allocated by those who had him of refusing to help residents he had evicted them, and money was allegedly ‘personal vendettas’ against. Mzobe denied extorted from the new residents. Cases of the allegations.33 eviction, theft and assault were opened, but victims stopped laying charges when no According to residents who were tasked one was arrested. to approach Mzobe, they were treated disrespectfully and refused an audience. Tensions were exacerbated when rumours At an ANC branch meeting a vote of no of a hit list emerged.34 confidence was passed in the councillor and From the outset the police were accused he was asked to stand down, but did not. of being complicit with the ANC faction In April 2014 a reputed warlord from supporting the councillor. The first casualty another hostel, Bongani Hlope, moved to at the hands of the police was Zinakile Glebelands. Hlope was allegedly seen at Fica, who died while being tortured by ANC meetings, linked to a faction supporting the Umlazi police on 13 March 2014.35 A the councillor. He and his associates further 10 cases of torture, most involving were accused of embarking on a reign of tubing (near-suffocation with a plastic terror during which hundreds of residents, bag) have been documented by Burger.36 including women and children, were evicted In addition, a number of residents were from their rooms. maliciously arrested, only for charges to be subsequently withdrawn.37 The arrival of Hlope and his associates coincided not only with forced evictions but Since the onset of the violence, and in our also with increased murders. Many victims interaction with the police, Burger and I were shot dead, some execution style. By have requested regular patrols and for the the end of 2015, 55 people, including Hlope investigation of cases to be undertaken by himself, had been killed. detectives from elsewhere in the province.

SA Crime Quarterly No. 57 • SEPTEMBER 2016 47 We have also made police management involving women as the reasons for the aware of the vulnerability of specific killings, and denied that the sale of beds or residents who had been threatened. One ethnicity played a part. of them, Sipho Ndovela, was a witness to In December 2015 the national office of the a murder in which he alleged Hlope was public protector intervened, following an implicated. Ndovela was subsequently shot official complaint by the Commonwealth dead outside the Umlazi court. A second Legal Education Association. Over the vulnerable resident, Richard Nzama, who festive season police from elsewhere in the had also complained of a cover-up in an country were deployed to the area. When attempted murder case, was arrested in they were withdrawn in late January, the July 2015, charged with attempted murder, killings resumed.40 and brutally tortured. The charges against him were withdrawn in November 2015.38 A multi-pronged investigation by the public protector was underway at the time The response of provincial and municipal of writing. The office of Premier Willies government to this violence has been to Mchunu (formerly MEC for policing) initiated dismantle the elected block structures and ‘peace talks’ between the ‘factions’, but allocate R10 million for fencing and mast they have been shrouded in secrecy, with lighting.39 In the meantime, street lights at participants warned against divulging the a main hostel entrance are frequently out content of the talks to other residents or of order, and overgrown vegetation poses outsiders. A peace agreement was signed a security risk. Serious water leakages between the two parties on Sunday 24 July recur regularly. 2016. However, a climate of fear prevails.41 The provincial government’s official A task team of provincial detectives was stance on the violence, articulated in the set up in June 2015 to investigate some of media, has been inconsistent. Initially, the cases, but by August 2016 there had while acknowledging intra-party tensions, been no convictions for any of the murders it blamed what was happening on the committed since April 2014. The toll is sale of beds (which was used to justify currently standing at over 60. the dismantling of the block structures). However, in July 2016 the coordinator of a It has become clear that the Glebelands peace committee appointed by the premier hostel violence is intertwined with municipal blamed old grudges, ‘taxes’ and disputes and provincial politics.

Violence in 2016 During the first seven months of 2016, 20 politically motivated deaths occurred in the The election-related violence in KZN, which province. Three of those killed – Nompumelelo began in early 2016, took place in a context Zondi, Phosithe Mbatha and Anna Madonsela of inter-party tensions in a few contested – were NFP supporters, and three – Alson areas, and of serious intra-party tensions Mzwakhe Nkosi, Siyanda Mnguni and over the ANC leadership and 2016 election Thokozane Majola – were IFP supporters. nominations processes. Fourteen were affiliated to the ANC.

48 Institute for Security Studies & University of Cape Town There were also a number of attempted murders by party officials at other levels in the lists of in which people were injured. In the contested preferred candidates. In the Harry Gwala region IFP area of Msinga there was an attempt on the there were complaints that the outcome of the life of NFP KZN Chairperson Vikizitha Mlotshwa selection meeting had been influenced by ‘ghost in April. Jeffrey Ngobese, the ANC candidate for delegates’ who were not bone fide members, nearby Muden, also came under fire in March and that a call for the process to be reconvened while travelling on the road to Greytown. had been ignored. Most regions in the province Subsequently Ngobese and other party were affected, with various parts of the province, members claimed they came under attack from especially around Pietermaritzburg, subjected to IFP supporters while canvassing. A standoff nomination-linked protests.44 between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) The degree of violence associated with the and ANC during the EFF’s provincial manifesto process varied, from the exchanging of blows launch at Esikhawini (Richards Bay) was averted at a meeting in Kokstad to the burning of a by a strong police presence.42 prospective candidate’s home in iFafa (South Provincial politics, nominations Coast), and the burning of the home and car of and protests a councillor at kwaDukuza (North Coast). There In May 2016 Senzo Mchunu was replaced by was extensive damage to government property Willies Mchunu as premier. A re-shuffling of the in, among others, Folweni, south of Durban, provincial executive took place, and various where a group torched and looted municipal MECs were replaced. One position was given buildings and other property. to Provincial Chairperson Sihle Zikalala and The dissatisfaction over nominations saw the another to South African Communist Party burning of vehicles, the stoning of police, and the (SACP) Provincial Secretary Themba Mthembu. blockading of main roads from northern Durban Staff changes were also made in the township areas in June, resulting in severe traffic 43 premier’s office. disruptions. By far the greatest property damage In early 2016 there were widespread allegations occurred in the iSithebe industrial area near within the ANC and its alliance partners of Mandeni, where, in March, several factories were irregularities at branch level, and interference set on fire and subsequently had to close.45

Figure 1: eThekwini ANC leadership and governance

2011 James Nxumalo becomes mayor Zandile Gumede elected councillor (allegedly irregularly) 2014/15 Provincial tensions reflected in municipal jockeying for appointments as election candidates and post-election positions between supporters Nxumalo (aligned Senzo Mchunu) and Gumede (aligned Willies Mchunu)

February 2015 James Nxumalo elected regional chair eThekwini ANC

December 2015 Regional elections re-run and Nxumalo supporters boycott, claiming irregularities

January – Ongoing tensions and competition, lists show most Zandile Gumede elected August 2016 candidates are Gumede supporters ANC chair

Candidate mayor

SA Crime Quarterly No. 57 • SEPTEMBER 2016 49 Deaths and intra-ANC tensions, dead at his home after attending a January to August 2016 party meeting.

On 24 January 2016, SACP supporter Phillip • Two women, Badelile Tshapa and Phetheni Dlamini and another man were shot dead in Ngubane, died after being shot on their way Ntshanga, and four others were injured at an home from an ANC meeting on the evening SACP meeting in the ward of current eThekwini of 8 June 2016. ANC sources claimed the Mayor James Nxumalo. Following the shootings killings were internal. the mayor called for the two ANC factions to hold a joint rally to deal with their internal • On 13 July, Pietermaritzburg Ward 22 ANC differences, but the municipal leadership Chairperson Nonhlanhla Khumalo and her allegedly rejected the offer.46 daughters narrowly missed being struck by at least seven bullets fired at and into their January also saw the beginning of a chain of Edendale house.49 events in Pietermaritzburg, some apparently linked to continuing factional battles there. It • There were two deaths in Newcastle, that of started with the killing of traffic officer Joe youth leader Wandile Ngubeni in May, and Dlamini. After his death, a hit list with 15 names candidate councillor Thembi Mbongo in early surfaced, with Dlamini’s name at the top. Other July. Like that of Councillor Thami Nyembe in names included the Pietermaritzburg municipal KwaNongoma in May, the deaths are believed manager, the mayor, two councillors, and the to be intra-party. regional secretary of the Umkhonto we Sizwe • Durban Councillor Zodwa Sibiya, who was (MK) veterans’ association. Five were members gunned down at her Glebelands home in of the SACP. Jeffrey Mpulo, number nine on the April 2016, had been an outspoken critic list, survived what he claims was an assassination of corruption. Her fellow hostel resident, attempt. All were alleged to be supporters of Senzo Mchunu.47 Municipal Manager Mxolisi Mduduzi Qwabe, shot dead in March, had 50 Nkosi, whose name was also on the hit list, was reportedly been on the local hit list. suspended from his job in February 2016, • On 18 July, two ANC councillor candidates despite being responsible for the municipality were shot dead: Khanyisile Ngobese-Sibisi in receiving its first clean audit in years. He had also the Ladysmith area and Bongani Skhosana 48 taken a very strong stand against corruption. at his home in Harding. The murders were From the end of May 2016 there was a spate of described by a SAPS spokesperson as further killings in Pietermaritzburg: ‘planned hits’.51

• On 31 May, Simon Mncwabe, who had just As the August 2016 municipal elections resigned as the chief financial officer of the approached, the ANC in KZN remained bitterly nearby Mpofana (Mooi River) municipality, divided along factional lines, with followers was shot dead when dropping his children at of the displaced premier said to be ‘plotting school in Edendale. Mncwabe had taken over revenge’. Nominations lists in the eThekwini a municipality under administration and had metro showed that the supporters of James resigned just before he was murdered, after Nxumalo had been removed or relegated to receiving death threats. low positions on the party lists, with virtually • The following day (1 June), former Edendale all candidates being supporters of Zandile branch chairperson Nathi Hlongwa was shot Gumede, who herself feared for her life.52

50 Institute for Security Studies & University of Cape Town Conclusions Notes 1 M de Haas, Violence in KZN and the culture of impunity, Paper The narrative presented here illustrates what given at World Summit of Human Rights Defenders to mark Habib has described as the ‘factional rather 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Paris, 7–11 December 1998. than cadre deployment’ characterisation of the 2 Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Truth and Reconciliation period since Polokwane, including the run-up Commission of Report, 3, 1998, 299–303; M de to the August 2016 municipal elections.53 While Haas, Violence, in South African human rights yearbook, 8, 1997, http://reference.sabinet.co.za/document/EJC34819. members of opposition parties – the IFP and the 3 J Bodenstein, Elections, in R Louw et al. (eds), South African NFP – also died in the run-up to the elections, human rights yearbook 1996, 7, Durban: Centre for Socio- this period saw an unprecedented number Legal Studies, 1998, 85–86; M de Haas, ‘Violence’, in Louw et al., South African human rights yearbook, 272–293. of ANC members shot dead, apparently in 4 See, for example, The Violence Monitor, Elections overview internecine violence. The elections themselves 2009, www.violencemonitor.com/?p=8 (accessed 22 July proceeded peacefully, but what will the post- 2016). 5 Figures cited in L Medley, Political violence claims 41 lives, election period bring? The simmering discontent Daily News, 20 November 2012. over the party’s 2015 provincial elections, fueled 6 Regarding the leadership of the (NFP) by the subsequent reshuffle of the provincial and its structure, see NFP, The National Freedom Party’s national structure, www.nfp.org.za/16.National-Freedom- government, has culminated in a court case Party-Matopma;-Structure-Leadership.htm (accessed 7 July aimed at unseating the present provincial 2016); and The Witness, Evil forces aiming to eliminate NFP, 24 July 2012, which cites Magwaza Msibi about the killings of leadership. The threat of further intra-party members. violence remains. 7 See SAPA, Accused councillor, son freed, Daily News, 5 December 2013, about the dropping of charges against The examples provided illustrate Zulu’s an NFP councillor accused of killing an Inkatha Freedom argument that citizen participation in Party (IFP) supporter, and numerous other press reports, incorporated into records kept by the author at the time. government is ‘limited to the ritualistic periodic 8 For example, see Daily News, Killing ratchets up KZN tension, vote every five years’, with the interim period 20 August 2016, about the murder of an African National dominated by an elite demonstrating ‘more Congress (ANC) councillor in the area; The Witness, Internal strife within IFP claims its third victim, 2 September 2010. party loyalty and personal gratification than 9 Paulus Zulu, A nation in crisis: an appeal for morality, Cape service to the citizens who put them there Town: Tafelberg, 2013, 124–125, 127. Adam Habib, South 54 Africa’s suspended revolution: hopes and prospects, in the first place’. Service delivery protests Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2013, 12, 87, 128. are a symptom of government failure. Yet the 10 Personal communication between author and sources in the governing party’s conduct in the run-up to the party during December 2007 and January 2008. August 2016 elections did not suggest that it 11 The Violence Monitor, How real is the threat of post Polokwane violence, 2008, www.violencemonitor.com/?p=272, (accessed planned to address the causes of discontent. To 29 July 2016). do so it would need to empower communities 12 Mary de Haas and Paulus Zulu, Ethnicity and federalism: the case of KwaZulu/Natal, Journal of Southern African Studies, by involving them in development, rooting out 20:3, September 1994, 433–446. corruption, and fixing a criminal justice system 13 kate Lefko-Everett, Neeta Misa-Dexter and Justin Sylvester, that allows most murderers to escape justice. Idasa 2009 Election response, NGO Pulse, www.ngopulse. org/sites/defaut/files/Election%20Response%202009(3)pdf In KZN, democracy has failed poor people. (accessed 27 July 2016). There is a need to change policy and practice 14 Weekend Witness, ANC membership dips by a quarter, 10 October 2015; City Press, The ANC’s membership in 2010, to ensure citizen participation and the 2012 and 2015, 10 October 2015. accountability of elected officials. 15 See, e.g., Bongani Hans, Candidates’ race turns ugly, The Witness, 15 December 2010; Bongani Hans, Cops open fire at ANC meeting, The Witness, 14 February 2015, re: conflict To comment on this article visit over party lists; Mayibongwe Maqhina, KZN ANC must redo http://www.issafrica.org/sacq.php elections, The Witness, 3 January 2013; City Press, ANC

SA Crime Quarterly No. 57 • SEPTEMBER 2016 51 battles report riots, 2 June 2013, re: reaction to the DLamini- newspaper reports. Regarding alleged collusion between Zuma inquiry. councillors and/or politicians and police see, for example, The 16 SAPA, Mkhize urges support for KZN premier, The Citizen, Violence Monitor, Human Rights Day 2010: What rights for 17 October 2013; Mayibongwe Maqhina, Premier speaks of people in KwaShembe (Clermont), Macambini/Mangete and his political journey, Daily News, 30 May 2016, which quotes Kennedy Road, 21 March 2010, http://www.violencemonitor. Willies Mchunu referring to his supporters urging him to remain com/?p=41 (accessed 25 July 2016); and The Violence in politics. Regarding support for Ramaphosa see Govan Monitor, Countdown to elections 2014: stop no go areas Whittles, Senzo Mchunu recall could leave KZN ANC-led now, 11 July 2013, http://www.violencemonitor.com/?p=186 alliance in tatters, Mail & Guardian, 24 May 2016, http://mg.co. (accessed 25 July 2016). za/article/2016-05-24-senzo-mchunu-recall-leaves-kzn-anc- 29 note that, unless otherwise indicated, all information led-alliance-in-tatters (accessed 22 July 2016). relating to events in Glebelands comes from the meticulous 17 nathi Olifant, Fault line grows ahead of ANC’s KZN forum, The documentation of what has been happening since March 2015 Times, 4 November 2015. by human rights defender Vanessa Burger, whose research has included a great deal of participant observation as well 18 Mayibongwe Maqhina, Mchunu bodyguard gunned down, as the taking of many statements and affidavits. The author Daily News, 21 July 2015; Lungani Zungu, Sacked ANC mayor has copies of all this documentation, including a database to take party to court, Sunday Tribune, 8 May 2016. of attacks, evictions and deaths from March 2015 to the 19 Genevieve Quintal, Sihle Zikalala elected new chairperson present. The author has worked closely with Burger and has at dramatic #ANCKZN conference, Times Live, 8 November also interacted on many occasions with residents. Reporters 2015; Amanda Khoza, Zandile Gumede elected new eThekwini have also interviewed residents, and in January 2016 Daily regional chairperson, News 24, 13 December 2015. News reporter Chris Ndaliso wrote a series of articles based 20 Thabiso Zulu, Final push against looters and their sycophants, on his interviews, for example Daily News, Witness a murder sent to community newspaper Mountain Echo for publication. and you’re next, 18 January 2016; see also Mail & Guardian, The author is in possession of the manuscript and has had Glebelands: fingers pointed at untouchable serial killer, 5–11 numerous communications with Zulu about it between June June 2015. and August 2016. 30 Information about the number of blocks from residents and 21 Ibid.; Jeff Wicks, R400mln irregular or unauthorised various press reports, including The Mercury, Reasons given expenditure, The Witness, 12 May 2015; Sibongakonke for Glebelands killings, 18 July 2016, which cites a government Shoba, ANC ‘discipline’ for official who blew corruption whistle, representative as giving a figure of 72 blocks, which would Sunday Times, 25 January 2016; Personal communication include new, smaller units. However, according to Burger, who between the author, Zulu and Ngcobo during meetings in did a physical count of the blocks, there are a total of 90 in the 2015 and 2016; the author, who has seen copies of highly complex. incriminating documentation. 31 PM Zulu, Hostels in the greater Durban region: a case study 22 eThekwini Municipality, Draft budget, www.durban.gov.za/ of the KwaMashu and Umlazi hostels, unpublished research Resource_Centre/Press_Releases/Pages/2015-2016_Draft- report, 1992, 26; see also PM Zulu, Durban hostels and Budget2015-2016-Draft-Budget-Tabled.asp (accessed 25 July political violence: case studies of KwaMashu and Umlazi, 2016); eThekwini Municipality Metro, City draft budget tabled, Transformation, 1993. Information about the violence in the 1 April 2016 – 14 April 2016. 1990s is from research done then by the author, regarding Congress of the People (COPE) conflict, from reports to the 23 Sipho Khumalo, Another murder amidst party tensions, The author from residents at the time, correspondence between Mercury, 13 September 2011. the author and the South African Police Service (SAPS) and 24 Ibid.; Daily News, Sibiya seen as a risk by some, 12 September press reports. 2011; The Mercury, Big guns face arrest for Sibiya murder, 13 32 zulu, Hostels in the greater Durban region, 16. September 2011. 33 Daily News, Streets blockaded near Glebelands, 21 June 25 The Witness, More arrests imminent, 13 September 2011; 2013. Daily News, Sibiya murder arrest, 12 September 2011; The Mercury, Shock as charge against accused in Sibiya murder 34 Many residents reported seeing or hearing about the hit list, case withdrawn, 18 March 2014. but no copy was given to them. As told to Burger beforehand, some of those named were subsequently killed. When 26 The Weekend Witness, Further sanctions are unlikely, 27 confronted at a meeting at the public protector’s Durban July 2013; City Press, Manase: Mpisane rakes in millions, 28 office on 10 March 2016, representatives of the municipality July 2013; Manase and Associates Chartered Accountants, conceded that Hlope had indeed handed them a list of Forensic investigation report eThekwini Metropolitan residents not wanted at Glebelands, as had been alleged by Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government of Co- residents. operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, 25 January 2012, see, for example, 90, 215, 277–278, 306, 381 regarding the 35 Regarding the death of Fica, there are sworn statements by grossly irregular award to DKH, a construction company. two men arrested with him who were also assaulted, and a second post-mortem was performed by a top independent 27 The Mercury, Irregular spending stands at R113m, 26 June pathologist. The reluctance to report cases was reported to 2015; The Mercury, Plunder of city coffers uncovered, 22 May the author and/or Burger. The author and Burger have been in 2015; Daily News, R212m irregularly spent in city, 12 February regular contact with SAPS management since March 2014. All 2016. references to police draw on correspondence and meetings, 28 Perceptions of and complaints about councillors surface including a meeting between Maj. Gen Chiliza, Cluster in conversations with people living in such areas and in Commander Umlazi, Burger and the author on 21 May 2015,

52 Institute for Security Studies & University of Cape Town and a meeting between members of a newly appointed task 44 The Witness, Presence of ghost delegate disrupts ANC’s Harry team, hostel residents and the author at the SAPS Durban Gwala conference, 3 May 2016; The Witness, Final push in headquarters on 2 June 2016. Much of the correspondence protests: Edendale France and Payipini in uproar, 1 June 2016; with the SAPS was copied to the then provincial MEC for The Witness, Flames over Majola: protests in Edendale’s Ward policing Willies Mchunu and some was sent to the national 12 over imposed councillor, 22 July 2016. commissioner of the SAPS. 45 Daily News, Councillor flees protestors, 23 February 2016; The 36 Most of the torture victims received medical assistance and Mercury, ANC nomination anger leads to riot looting, 1 March J88s, including in some cases a thorough examination by an 2016; Daily News, Durban burns, 6 June 2016; The Times, expert in the use of ‘tubing’. ANC nomination list furore, 7 June 2016; Daily News, iSthebe 37 Full details of the arrests and, where known, case numbers, violence continues, 10 March 2016; The Mercury, Buthelezi and subsequent withdrawal of charges were recorded by tells of his heartbreak, 6 July 2016 (about the factory closures Burger in a database. Some were followed up with the police in iSithebe). by the author, who also assisted with legal representation for 46 The Mercury, Mayor not at meeting, 26 January 2016; Daily one of those arrested who was a key witness in the death of News, Puzzle over fatal shooting, 26 January 2016; The Fica. Mercury, Mayor’s call for factions to meet rejected, 27 January 38 ndovela was with a man who was shot dead in February 2016. 2015 and he informed the Umlazi SAPS investigator that he 47 The Witness, Hit list handed to cops, 29 January 2016; had seen Hlope driving the bakkie in which the men were Sunday Tribune, Mayor’s name is on hit list, 31 January 2016; transported to shoot the victim. He also identified the killers, The Witness, Hit list man believes shots fired at house were for who were subsequently charged. He told Burger that the him, 12 April 2016. The author was sent a copy of the list. investigator had told him that the information about Hlope was 48 The Mercury, Shock as municipal manager is probed, 25 not relevant and he could leave it out of his statement. Burger February 2016; The Witness, Allegations of conspiracy, 12 and the author arranged with the branch commander at April 2016; The Mercury, Pmb graft probe fails to uncover any Umlazi SAPS for Ndovela to make a supplementary statement wrongdoing, 7 July 2016. on the afternoon of the day on which he was killed. The men 49 The Mercury, Dad gunned down in front of daughters, 2 June who had been charged were subsequently acquitted. See 2016; The Daily News, ANC branch official shot dead, 3 June The Violence Monitor, Assassination at Umlazi Court: policing 2016; The Times, KZN killings spark fear, 10 June 2016; The heads must roll, 18 May 2015, http://www.violencemonitor. Witness, Back to the dark old days, 10 June 2016; Daily com/?p=260 (accessed 25 July 2016). Regarding the News, Officer’s careless membership claims could lead to torture of Nzama, see The Violence Monitor, Holding the civil war: EFF, 11 July 2016; Daily News, Accused ANC killer constitution in contempt: police torture in a constitutional granted bail: state slated for irresponsibility, 15 July 2016; The democracy, www.violencemonitor.com/?holding%20the%20 Witness, Put a stop to this madness, 15 July 2016. constitution%20in%20contempt, (accessed 25 July 2016). Burger and, on one occasion, the author, was present in court 50 Daily News, Playing dead to survive shooting, 12 May 2016; during all the remand hearings of Nzama. Daily News, Killing spurs peace bid, 15 May 2016; City Press, Manipulation of lists killed Mbongo, 10 July 2016. Information 39 Daily News, ANC handling hostel violence, 19 September on Glebelands killings, including that of councillor Sibiya, was 2014; Daily News, Plan to curb Glebelands hostel violence, 29 obtained from Burger; see also Daily News, Councillor killed at September 2014; eThekwini Metro, Calm returns to Glebe, 31 Glebelands, 18 April 2016. October – 13 November 2014; The Mercury, Reasons given for Glebelands killings, 18 July 2016. 51 Daily News, Two more die in poll violence, 19 July 2016; Sunday Tribune, Slaughtered in front of their children and 40 This complaint was facilitated by Prof. David McQuoid-Mason, families, 24 July 2016, about the killing of candidates. former head of the Department of Law at the University of Natal, who is currently chairperson of the Commonwealth 52 The Mercury, Loyal cadres repaid, 2 June 2016; The Witness, Legal Education Association. ANC list is start of a new battle, 30 June 2016; The Witness, Axed mayors replaced by loyalists, 20 June 2016; The 41 Mbuso Mkhize, Glebelands Hostel peace agreement Mercury, City ANC leader fears for her life, 20 June 2016. signed, SABC, 24 July 2016, www.sabc./news/a/ cc97f1004d9d0ae98139becfebe468/Glebelands-peace- 53 Habib, South Africa’s suspended revolution, 67. agreement-signed-20162407 (accessed 4 August 2016); East 54 zulu, A nation in crisis, 67. Coast Radio, Peace agreement signed at Glebelands hostel, 25 July 2016, https://www.ecr.co.za/news-sport/news/peace- agreement-signed-glebelands-hostel/ (accessed 4 August 2016). 42 Daily News, NFP chairman dodges assassins’ fire, 18 April 2016; correspondence between author and SAPS at Muden and Greytown about attacks on Ngobese, April 2016; Sunday Tribune, Bullets fly at EFF rally, 29 May 2016;City Press, Separated by a thin blue line, 29 May 2016. 43 Daily News, Premier not fazed by midterm, 26 May 2016; The Witness, Mchunu’s aides axed, 7 June 2016; The Witness, Shuffle not the solution, 8 June 2016; Daily News, Premier speaks of his political journey, 30 May 2016; City Press, Is Willies just a KZN seat filler?, 29 May 2016.

SA Crime Quarterly No. 57 • SEPTEMBER 2016 53