Lack of jobs will spark more rioting, historian warns

AS KWAZULU-NATAL this week observed the 73rd anniversary of the Durban riots of 1949, a historian has lauded the city’s residents for avoiding a repeat of that violent and bloody event during last year’s July unrest.

More than 100 people of African and Indian descent were killed in 1949, while more than 1 000 were injured.

Properties, including homes, businesses and shops, were vandalised and destroyed during the three days of rioting which took place from January 13 to 15 in 1949. While there were many reported versions about what could have sparked the riots, according to the late Alfred Nokwe, a legend in art and entertainment who lived in the area, the riots started after an Indian shopkeeper viciously assaulted a 14-year-old African boy after they disagreed over change.

A similar incident occurred this past July during the unrest that broke out in Phoenix, when neighbourhood watch programmes – comprising residents protecting their properties and businesses – were infiltrated by racist vigilantes who took the law into their own hands. A total of 36 people, mostly Africans from the nearby Kwamashu, Amaoti, Inanda and Bhambayi townships around Phoenix north of Durban, were killed.

Omar Badsha, a documentary photographer and founder of the SA History Organisation, cited similarities between the 1949 riots and the July unrest – and commended Durban residents for not spreading violence.

Badsha described the escalating unemployment rate, particularly among the African people, as a “ticking time bomb” that would explode and plunge the country into another riot. Badsha said imany people were unemployed in townships and they often viewed other races as opponents.

Badsha said that just as they did in 1949, police last year took their time to respond, which he believed resulted in the loss of many lives.

Badsha lamented the high level of inequality which he said had made it difficult to build a non-racial community.

“The differences within our communities are very deep and date back 300 years when colonists arrived in our country.”

He added: “The July unrest could have easily spread to many areas around Durban. Indian and African communities showed tolerance of each other and let the law take its course. We saw a similar occurrence in 1985, where there were racial flare-ups once again.

“While the communities have displayed reconciliation, with many African people moving to predominantly Indian townships, inequality remains a stumbling block that divides communities.

“There is a lack of social cohesion programmes and political will from the government.”