Numbering the Dead

John Aitchison

Description

Numbering the Dead is a seminal account of the violent civil conflict that broke out around the city of Pietermaritzburg in 1987 and what ensued over the next three years. Aitchison and his colleagues, based at the Centre for Adult Education, documented and dissected the ebb and flow and the changing circumstances of this not-so-low intensity civil war in the region.

They collected, computerised, and categorised literally thousands of instances of eyewitness or documentary evidence, and then applied an innovative synthesis of qualitative and quantitative approaches that uncovered the patterns and intimated the underlying causes.

This book, mainly covering the period 1987 to 1989, presents a distillation of this monitoring work, conducted under unimaginably difficult and stressful conditions.

It was originally done with the simple aim of stopping the killing by telling people in the province, in South Africa and the world what was happening, as accurately and truthfully as possible.

Sujets

• Afrique du Sud
• Africa
• History
• History of Africa
• Social sciences
• South
• South Africa
• Republic of South Africa
• Histoire
• Violence in Society

Informations

• Publié par: Natal Society Foundation
• Date de parution: 05 août 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781991225634
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 5 Mo

Extrait

the Natal Midlands from 1987 until 1994. Its title reflects both its painstaking

protest activities, and the waning appeal of the Inkatha Cultural Liberation Movement, saw urbanised young Zulu-speakers became increasingly attracted to the UDF and the banned African National Congress (ANC).

This book, mainly covering the period 1987 to 1989 is not, however, simply a record.

scientists and political players have articulated about the reasons for the violence. It can be argued that Aitchison’s interpretation comes closest to being correct about the dynamics of the civil conflict, the apartheid state’s collusion in the conflict, and the ongoing legacy of fracture that the conflict would bequeath to the country.

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NUMBERING THE DEAD

John Aitchison

The course and pattern of political violence

in the Natal Midlands, 1987–1989

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NUMBERING THE DEAD

The course and pattern of political violence in the Natal Midlands, 1987–1989

by

John Aitchison

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Natal Society Foundation Trust PIETERMARITZBURG 2015

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Numbering The Dead. © John Aitchison 2015

First edition published in 2015 in Pietermaritzburg by the Trustees of The Natal Society Foundation under its imprint “Occasional Publications of The Natal Society Foundation”.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without reference to the publishers, the Trustees of The Natal Society Foundation, PO Box 11093, Dorpspruit 3206, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Natal Society Foundation website: http://www.natalia.org.za/

Editor: Christopher Merrett Assistant editors: Peter Croeser and Phila Mfundo Msimang Index: Christopher Merrett The Trustees of the NSF gratefully acknowledge permission by Mr Cedric Nunn to use the photograph “Funeral of two youths abducted and killed in Mpophomeni, Howick, 1987” by Cedric Nunn, for the dust jacket front cover. Design & layout: Jo Marwick

ISBN 978-0-6398040-6-4 (paperback)

CONTENTS

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List of maps, tables and graphs.................................................................. iv Abbreviations ............................................................................................. vi

Maps .......................................................................................................... viii

Selected list of individuals ......................................................................... xiii Foreword ................................................................................................... xv Preface ....................................................................................................... xix

Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 A story of what happened in the Natal Midlands ................. 7 Chapter 2 Events and incidents ............................................................. 47 Chapter 3 Damage and destruction ....................................................... 65 Chapter 4 Deaths ................................................................................... 83 Chapter 5 Analysing the conflict...........................................................103 Chapter 6 The interpreters..................................................................... 129 Chapter 7 Causes................................................................................... 163

Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

Features of an unofîcial war................................................ 205

Senzani na?in whose interests? ........................................... 211

Monitoring and monitoring methodology ............................ 213

Bibliography.............................................................................................. 243

Index .......................................................................................................... 265

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LIST OF MAPS, TABLES AND GRAPHS

Maps 1. Natal 2. Natal Midlands 3. Pietermaritzburg and Durban regions 4. Pietermaritzburg metropolitan region 5. Pietermaritzburg region

Tables 1. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest, 1987−1989 2. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest, 1987 3. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest by month, 1987 4. Events of political violence by area, 1987 5. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest, 1988 6. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest by month, 1988 7. Events of political violence and unrest by area, 1988 8. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest, 1989 9. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest by month, 1989 10. Events of political violence and unrest by area, 1989 11. Afîliations known and unknown in unrest incidents, 1987−1989 12. Consequences of various types of political violence, 1987−1989 13. Deaths from political violence, 1980−1992 14. Murders in the Pietermaritzburg/Hammarsdale police district, 1986−1988 15. Deaths from criminal and unrest violence, 1986−1988 16. Deaths from political and factional violence, 1980−1986 17. Deaths from political and factional violence by area, 1980–1986 18. Incidents of political violence leading to death, 1987−1989 19. Deaths by area by year, 1987−1989 20. Deaths by month by afîliation, 1987 21. Deaths by area by month, 1987 22. Deaths by area by afîliation, 1987 23. Deaths by month by afîliation, 1988 24. Deaths by area by month, 1988 25. Deaths by area by afîliation, 1988 26. Deaths by month by afîliation, 1989 27. Deaths by area by month, 1989 28. Deaths by area by afîliation, 1989 29. UDF and Inkatha deaths, 1987−1989 30. Deaths by area by year, 1987−1989 31. Political party or organisation causing most good change, 1989 32. Political party or organisation causing least good change, 1989 33. Political party or organisation causing most/least good change, 1989

Graphs 1. Events and incidents of political violence, 1987−1989 2. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1987−1989 3. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1987−1989 4. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1987 5. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1987 6. Events and incidents of political violence and unrest by month, 1987 7. Events of political violence by area, 1987 8. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1988 9. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1988 10. Events and incidents of political violence by month, 1988 11. Events of political violence and unrest by area, 1988 12. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1989 13. Incidents of political violence by afîliation, 1989 14. Events and incidents of political violence by month, 1989 15. Events of political violence and unrest by area, 1989 16. Deaths from political violence, 1980−1992 17. Deaths from criminal and unrest violence, 1986−1988 18. Deaths from political violence, 1987−1989 19. Incidents of political violence leading to death: 1987−1989 by afîliation 20. Incidents of political violence leading to death: 1987−1989 by afîliation 21. UDF and Inkatha deaths, 1987−1989 22. UDF and Inkatha deaths, 1987−1989 23. UDF and Inkatha deaths, 1987−1989 24. Pietermaritzburg region deaths by area, 1987−1989 25. Pietermaritzburg region deaths by area, 1987−1989 26. Deaths in the Hammarsdale and Pietermaritzburg regions, 1987−1989 27. Deaths in some rural areas, 1987−1989 28. New detentions per month, 1986−1989 29. Estimated detainee population: Natal Midlands, June 1986–June 1989 30. Detentions in three States of Emergency: Midlands and South Africa, 1986−1989 31. Detentions and deaths, 1986−1989 32. Deaths from political violence: Midlands and South Africa, 1985−1989 33. Deaths from political violence: Midlands and South Africa, 1985−1992 34. Metropolitan Africans’ political allegiance, PWV, 1977−1990 35. Metropolitan Africans’ political allegiance, Natal, 1977−1990 36. Distribution of ethnic groups within political tendencies, 1990 37. Distribution of ethnic groups within political tendencies, 1990

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ADJ ANC ANC(EM) ANCYL AYO AZANYU AZAPO AZASM BCM CAB CAE CASE CCB CODESA CONTRALESA COSAS COSATU DACOM DESCOM DET DP DTA ECC EDEYO EMPSA FOSATU HAYCO HRC HSRC HURIDOCS

ICRC IDASA IFP ILEFO IMSAA ISG ISU IYB IYO KZP LHR

ABBREVIATIONS

Association of Democratic Journalists African National Congress African National Congress (External Mission) African National Congress Youth League Ashdown Youth Organisation Azanian National Youth Unity Azanian Peoples Organisation Azanian Students Movement Black Consciousness Movement Complaints Adjudication Board Centre for Adult Education Community Agency for Social Enquiry Civil Co-operation Bureau Conference for Democracy in South Africa Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa Congress of South African Students Congress of South African Trade Unions Detainees Aid Committee Detainees Support Committee Department of Education and Training Democratic Party Democratic Turnhalle Alliance Edendale Crisis Committee Edendale Youth Organisation Ecumenical Monitoring Programme in South Africa Federation of South African Trade Unions Hammarsdale Youth Organisation Human Rights Commission Human Sciences Research Council Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems International International Committee of the Red Cross Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa Inkatha Freedom Party Independent Law Enforcement Facilitation Ofîce Independent Mediation Services of South Africa Imbali Support Group Internal Stability Unit Inkatha Youth Brigade Imbali Youth Organisation KwaZulu Police Lawyers for Human Rights

LIC LRC MAWU MDM MK NACTU NDM NECC NEHAWU NIC NIM NP NPA NUM NUMSA PAC PCC PFP PWV RENAMO

SACBC SACC SACP SADF SAIRR SAP SAPA SASRIA SJ SOYO SPASEC SWAPO TGWU UDF UMAG UMP UWUSA WCC

low-intensity conflict Legal Resources Centre Metal and Allied Workers Union Mass Democratic Movement Umkhonto we Sizwe National Council of Trade Unions National Democratic Movement National Education Crisis/Co-ordinating Committee National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union Natal Indian Congress Network of Independent Monitors National Party National Peace Accord National Union of Mineworkers National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa Pan Africanist Congress Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce Progressive Federal Party Pretoria/Witwatersrand/Vereeniging Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (National Mozambique Resistance) Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference South African Council of Churches South African Communist Party South African Defence Force South African Institute of Race Relations South African Police South African Press Association South African Special Risks Insurance Association Society of Jesus Sobantu Youth Organisation Students of Pietermaritzburg Social and Educational Club South West African Peoples Organisation Transport and General Workers Union United Democratic Front Unrest Monitoring Group Unrest Monitoring Project United Workers Union of South Africa World Council of Churches

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Map 1 Natal

Map 2 The Natal Midlands

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