NCJ Number
144468
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The underlying causes of the violence that has occurred in recent years and months in black townships, squatter areas, and rural enclaves of Natal and the townships in the PWV area of South Africa are analyzed.
Abstract
More than 5,000 people have been killed in this violence since 1987, and 771 people have been killed in the first 4 months of 1991. Despite extensive media coverage, explanations for this violence have been oversimplified. The media have suggested that the violence is almost exclusively black on black violence occurring between the Zulu and Xhosas ethnic groups, is becoming a civil war, and involves only members of the African National Congress or Inkatha Freedom Party. The media also suggest that the government and police are impartial professionals doing their best to stop the conflict and that the rapid increase in violent crimes poses a major threat to the white population. However, the violence must be understood in the context of the struggle for political power in South Africa. The subgroups most involved are those most deprived of basic resources. In addition, apartheid laws and police actions since 1985 have destroyed respect for law. To address the situation, the police must be pressured to act impartially toward all sectors of black communities. In addition, all weapons must be banned at all public gatherings. Other measures should include changes in police tactics, encouragement of civic associations in black townships not directly affiliated to any political party, efforts to develop skills in nonviolent problemsolving, and improvement in services to squatter areas. The Institute of Criminology at the University of Cape Town is conducting research and promoting legal reform to ensure greater access to justice for population groups previously lacking it.