Only useful until democracy? Reintegrating ex-combatants in post-apartheid South Africa with lessons from Kosovo & Zimbabwe Edited by David Everatt © Atlantic Philanthropies Acknowledgements We would like to express our gratitude to Gerald Kraak of Atlantic Philanthropies who provided resources, energy, support, vision and a critical engagement that kept the whole project going. The real challenges were encountered in the field, where Godfrey Dlulane and G-Boy Madondo provided initial assistance in making contacts with ex-combatants. We are also grateful to the provincial and regional offices of the different formations for their helpful role during fieldwork. Thereafter, the following colleagues from a wide range of armed formations were all invaluable in opening doors and facilitating the entire fieldwork and data gathering exercise: Jwarha; Mdu; Sandile; Tumi; Mandla; Nhlanhla; Lucky; Willie; Maponya; Sipho; Moloke; G-Boy; Rhee; Dick; Michael; Vuyisile; Maboea; Sakkie; Mo-Africa; Professor; Mr Moodley; George Biya; Junior Ntabeni; Mr Tshabalala; Brigadier Mahlangu. Various sections of this report were edited by Laureen Bertin, Catherine Garson, Karen Martin, Piers Pigou and Di Stewart Photographs: Iafrika Photos, Ravza Andzhelich Cover photographs: Roger Bosch/iafrika photos and Ravsa Andzhelich Design and layout: www.intothelimelight.co.za Printing: Global Print Contents Section 1 Only useful until democracy: A survey of Ex combatants in South Africa? ........................... 1 - Executive summary ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 1: The combat experience .............................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2: Current circumstances .............................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 3: Attitudes and values .................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 4: Outreach ................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 5: Needs and provision .................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Atlantic Philanthropies ........................................................................................................................ 7 Background and motivation for the study .................................................................................................. 7 The need for coherent policy and targeted programmes ............................................................................. 8 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Limitations of the methodology ................................................................................................................. 9 The sample .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Race, sex and age ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Theoretical premise of the study .............................................................................................................. 10 Structure of the report .............................................................................................................................. 11 Chapter 1: The combat experience ....................................................................................................................... 12 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Situation on joining .................................................................................................................................. 12 Activities undertaken ................................................................................................................................ 14 Involvement and exposure......................................................................................................................... 14 The effects of involvement ......................................................................................................................... 16 Post-traumatic stress disorder .................................................................................................................. 17 Demobilisation .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Integration ................................................................................................................................................ 22 After demobilisation ................................................................................................................................. 23 Chapter 2: Current circumstances ....................................................................................................................... 24 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 24 Family life ................................................................................................................................................. 24 Levels of education and employment ........................................................................................................ 25 Measuring the levels of poverty among the ex-combatants interviewed .................................................. 27 Chapter 3: Attitudes and values ........................................................................................................................... 30 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Global happiness ....................................................................................................................................... 30 HIV/AIDS ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Health ....................................................................................................................................................... 32 Skills … and crime ................................................................................................................................... 33 Acceptance, rejection and acknowledgement ........................................................................................... 34 Betrayal ..................................................................................................................................................... 36 Recognition and compensation ................................................................................................................. 37 Forgiveness ................................................................................................................................................ 38 Typology ................................................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 4: Outreach ............................................................................................................................................ 46 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 46 Media access ............................................................................................................................................. 46 Civic engagement and trust ...................................................................................................................... 46 Good citizens ............................................................................................................................................ 47 Consciousness and organisational form .................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 5: Needs and provision ........................................................................................................................... 53 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 53 What is needed? ........................................................................................................................................ 53 What has been provided? 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