South Africa: Another year, another murder…
Phumlani Ndlovu never saw much of 2015. When he was invited to visit friends on Friday 16 January he never expected he could be lured to his death. His lifeless body was found early the next morning near Block 40. He had been gunned down during the night, shot over ten times in the chest and head by faceless killers. He was only in his early thirties when he died.
Phumlani Ndlovu's is the 20th assassination at Glebelands Hostel since March last year. Twenty needless deaths in only ten months. Twenty unsolved murders. Twenty families left mourning. Twenty coffins for Glebelands.
Talks regarding longstanding community concerns were halted by provincial government just before the May 2014 elections. Nineteen died and over a hundred were evicted during the seven months it took for provincial leaders to return to Glebelands. When they did return, they made no attempt to identify the cause of the violence, they did not listen to community concerns, resume talks, try to find lasting peaceful solutions, or offer social support to dispossessed victims. It seems they placed little value on the lives of hostel dwellers. In fact, it seems that it may serve certain political interests that so many have died. If this is not the case, then why has government shown so little interest in finding the cause of the violence and addressing it so that peace may be restored? What is it that must remain hidden?
In a few short hours at the Mass Community Meeting held last year on 28 September by KZN Premier, Senzo Mchunu, peace and R10 million worth of tender opportunities - no doubt to benefit the politically faithful - was declared; vitally important block committees were replaced with politically aligned impractical structures; hostel leadership was undermined and credible, apolitical grassroots community organisations were ignored. After avoiding all meaningful community engagement and without providing much needed social support, the provincial leaders then left after deploying special police units which immediately set about torturing and terrorising the community. The leaders' next destination was KwaMashu Hostel where four men were murdered in November. They announced the Glebelands crisis had been solved.
We now ask these provincial leaders, where is this peace?
Peace cannot be ordered, top down, by politicians. Peace cannot be put out to tender. Peace cannot be deployed in uniform down the barrel of a gun. Peace cannot be created by destroying the community structures that promote it. Peace cannot be forced from a ballot box. Peace cannot be performed at a maskandi festival. Peace cannot be obtained by political infighting over resources.
Lasting peace is a long process that must include all stakeholders, involve open, honest discussion and the will to make whatever changes are necessary - a commitment to which we have yet to see from the government.
Peace was not around the night Phumlani Ndlovu died. Neither was it there for the nineteen others who were killed. Peace is not on either side of Glebelands' warring factions.
Ubunye bama Hostela Nezakhiwo Zawo therefore calls on the government, as we have done repeatedly to date, with immediate effect, to create a proper environment for resumed negotiations, commit to uncovering and addressing the root causes of the violence and the establishment of real conflict mediation processes before we bury more of our comrades.
Together with the KZN Violence Monitor, Right2Know Campaign, human rights and social justice campaigners and other community organisations, Ubunye bama Hostela Nezakhiwo Zawo will be monitoring police conduct and closely following the investigation into Phumlani Ndlovu's murder to ensure justice is carried out without fear or favour. We urge anyone with information regarding the murder to contact the police and call on the community to remain calm and not resort to further violence.
Ubunye bama Hostela Nezakhiwo Zawo extends its sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Phumlani Ndlovu during their time of suffering and commit to redouble our efforts towards lasting peace at Glebelands Hostel.
For more information and interviews please contact:
Mthembiseni Thusi: UbHNZ Deputy Chairperson / Spokesman: 0810218608 / 0738894385
Bongani Mthembu: UbHNZ Glebelands Representative Chairperson: 0732320030
Sibusiso Hluthwa: UbHNZ Member / former Glebelands Block Chairperson: 0827721643
Thulani Kati: UbHNZ Member / former Glebelands Block Chairperson: 0724046674