TROUBLE ACROSS THE TUGELA RIVER: POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN MANDINI. A COMPARITIVE STUDY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE POLITICAL CULTURE OF PRE-AND-POST­ APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA (1984 - 2001). By REUBEN "NHLAKA" MHLONGO Submitted in part fulfillment of the requirements for the MA degree in the discipline of POLITICAL SCIENCE in the SCHOOL OF GOVERNANCE in the FACULTY OF LAW, ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN-WESTVILLE SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR J. DANIEL FEBRUARY 2003 DEDICATION I dedicate this study to my son and my mother. To my son, Nhlahla Eugine Mhlongo, it is your presence in this universe that predominantly motivated me to further my education. To my mother, Mildred Funani Mhlongo, your wisdom extends beyond formal education. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I thank God for making the impossible a reality. I would also like to sincerely thank my ancestors who are always with me in my all endeavors. I therefore say to them "Bonjomane Ka Mgabhi" your spirit will always live on. To my family and friends, I know how dedicated you are to me, thanks for supporting me and thanks once again for your understanding and co-operation. I will be assassinating my own character and undermining my own integrity if I do not begin by extending my sincere appreciation to my supervisor, Professor John Daniel, who directed this study and provided guidance, encouragement and support to me. Thanks once again for your constant dedication and sacrifice. The words of thanks are also extended to all who participated and made this project a success, more especially to my research assistants, the respondents as well as the interviewees. I would like to thank you for your time you dedicated, efforts you have shown, and commitment at large towards making this research a reality and a possibility. I lack words to express how thankful I am, but thanks a million times, I really appreciated it. It is important to note that this study is not intended to offend or insult anyone or cause any confusions and doubts. This study tries, in a narrow scope, to identify the fundamental causes of political instability in Mandini and which methods were used towards settling the tensions and differences between the two protagonists (the ANC and the IFP). To those who may feel offended, I therefore send my sincere apology to them. However, if by pronouncing self-evident-truths and leaving no stone unturned I will be playing "dirty politics", I then plead guilty. LOOKING BACKWARD REACHING FORWARD DECLARATION OF AUNTHENTICITY I, Reuben Hlakaniphani Mhlongo, hereby declare that this dissertation is a product of my own work and that all references made have been acknowledged. ABBREVIATIONS ACTWUSA - Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Workers Union of South Africa ANC - African National Congress BC - Black Consciousness BCM - Black Consciousness Movement CA - Constitutional Assembly CODESA - Convention for a Democratic South Africa CONTRALESA - Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa CP - Conservative Party COSAG - Conference for Concerned South Africans COSAS - Congress of South African Students COSATU - Congress of South African Trade Unions DA - Democratic Alliance DP - Democratic Party DST - Directorate of a Special Task EXCO - Executive Committee FF - Freedom Front FOSATU - Federation of South African Trade Unions GNU - Government of National Unity HA YCO - Hammarsdale Youth Congress ICMA - Isithebe Clothing Manufacturers Association IFP - Inkatha Freedom Party ISU - Internal Stability Unit lTV - Investigation Task Unit JMC - Joint Management Council JORAC - Joint Rent Action Committee KFC - KwaZulu Finance Corporation KLA - KwaZulu Legislative Assembly KYL - KwaMakhutha Youth League KZP - KwaZulu Police LIW - Law Intensity Warfare MAWU - Metal and Allied Workers Union MDM - Mass Democratic Movement MK - U mkhonto We Sizwe MPF - Mandini Peace Forum NA - National Assembly NC - National Council NEC - National Executive Committee NP - National Party NPA - National Peace Accord NPA - Natal Provincial Administration NSMS - National Security Management System NUMSA - National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa PAC - Pan Africanist Congress PNAB - Port Natal Administration Board PPWAWU - Paper Wood and Allied Workers Union PSSC - Protection Services Standing Committee SACP - South African Communist Party SACTU - South African Clothing and Textiles Workers Union SADF - South African Defense Force SANDF - South African National Defense Force SAP - South African Police SAPPI - South African Paper Produce Industry SAPS - South African Police Services SB - Special Branch SDU - Self Defense Unit SPU - Self Protection Unit SSC - State Security Council TLC - Transitional Local Council UDF - United Democratic Front UWUSA - United Workers Union of South Africa ZTA - Zululand Territorial Authority TABLE OF CONTENTS Headings _________________________ Pages Chapter 1 1. Introduction. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... .. ... ... 1-3 1.1. Objectives of the Study .... .................... ...... .. .................... ..... ...... 3 1.2. Research Questions ...... ................. ..... .. ........................ ..... ... ·· ·· 3- 4 1.3 . Specific Hypothesis ........ .... ........ ............. ................ ................. 4 1.4. Toward a Theory of Conflict ..... .. ............................ .. .................... 4-5 1.5. What is Conflict ................................ ...... ................ ... .... .. ......... 5-6 1.5.1. Conditions that Encourage Conflict......................... .. .................. 6-7 1.6. Theories of Conflict. ... .............. ... ..... ...................... .. ............. 7 1.6. 1. Social Process Theories. .. 7-10 1.6.2. Social Structural Theories ......... ...... .. ...... ......... .... ... ............ ... .... 10-11 1.7. Conflict Resolution: A Broader Perspective... ... ... .. .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 11-16 1.8. Other Theoretical Explanations of Conflict in Mandini .......................... ... 16-18 1.9. Research Methodology ... 18-19 1.10. Limitations of the Study .................. ........... ....... ... .................... .. 19-20 1. 11 . Chapter Division ..... ......................... ............. .. ... ............... ... 20 Chapter 2 2. Historical Background of the South African Conflict .... ....... ............. ......... 21 2.1. Introduction .................. .......... .. ......... ..... ......................... ......... 21 2.2. Historical Overview of the Conflict .. ... .............................................. 21-27 2.3. Explaining the South African Conflict from the 1980s ................. ...... .... 27-44 2.4. The Culture of Violence in the 1990s ........... ...... ..... ................... ..... .. .44-46 2.5. Conflict Resolution: The Transition to Democracy ..... .... ... ... ........ .... ...... .44-50 2.6. Concluding Remarks .. .............. .. ... ................. .............................. 50-51 Chapter 3 3. Politics and Violence in KwaZulu and Natal Region ................................. 52 3. l.Introduction .............. ... ... ........ .. ... ............................................... 52-53 3.2. Historical Background to the KwaZulu-Natal Conflict .......... .... .............. 53-54 3.2.1. The Early Politics ofInkatha ... .............. .............. .. ................. ...... 54-55 3.3. Some Explanations for the Conflict in KwaZulu-Natal Region....... ........... 55-59 3.4. The Political Life of the Province from the 1980s .... .... ...... .... ........ ....... 59-61 3.4.1. The Strategy of Ungovernability in the Region ... ... .. .. ....................... 62 3.5. The Latter Part of the 1980s: Inkatha and the South African Security Forces ....................... ....................................... 62-65 3.5.1 . The Police and the Special Constables .. .............................. .. .. .. ...... 65-68 3.6. The Culture of Violence in the Region from the 1980s The Viewpoint of Inkatha ... 68-74 3.6. 1. Continued Conflict and the Peace Initiatives in 1988 ....................... .. 74-77 3.7. The Culture of Violence in the Region from the 1980s The Viewpoint of the ANC Alliance ... 77 3.7.1. The Early Collaboration of Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi .... .. ... ... .. .. .... 78-79 3.7.2. Incorporation and Repression in the 1980s ...... ..... ......... .......... ........ 79-82 3.7.3. The War Goes to Pietermaritzburg ....... .. ..... ....... ........................ ... 82-83 3.7.4. Mechanisms Towards Peace Settlement ............................ .. ..... ....... 83-88 3.8. Conflict Resolution in the Region .. ..... .......................................... 88-92 Chapter 4 4.1. Explaining the Culture of Political Violence in the Region from the 1990s ... 92-102 4.2. The National Peace Accord .................................... ... .................. 102-107 4.3. Hostels Constitute a New Focal Point ............ ... ............... .. ....... .. ..... 107-109 4.4. Political Conflict Between the ANC and the IFP since 27 April 1994 ........ 109-111 4.5. The Relationship Between Tradition and the Balance of Power in KwaZulu-Natal ... ......... ... ... ............... .. ........ .. ...... ... ..... 111-113 4.6. Concluding Remarks. ..... ...... .. ................... .......... .... .... ......... 113-118 Chapter 5 5. Trouble Across the Tugela River: The Mandini Story ..... ................. .... 119 5.1. Introduction .. ............. ... .. ... ............ .... .. ....... ... ..... .... .. .... ... ... 119 5.2. The Early History of the