An oral history of rural violence: narratives of violence in Emakhuzeni (Springvale), Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal. 1980-1990.

Abstract

The 1980s saw both rural and urban South Africa being gripped by internecine violence. This research is a study of the violence that occurred in the rural area of eMakhuzeni (Springvale) in Ixopo. It is a historical account conducted using the qualitative methodology with reliance on oral history. The study presents narratives from eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the history of the violence that occurred in the 1980s. The study revealed that, in spite of the political violence that occurred during the apartheid era in the cities, rural-rural Black-on-Black violence within the same community was at its peak, it had nothing to do with the apartheid violence. The study reveals major instigators that always led to this violence: traditional festivitieswhere young men usually engaged themselves in stick fighting as a test of their masculinity, which often culminated in violence. The study traced the root of this violence between Ntshona and Dukathole izigodi (factions) to the 1960s as these two factions had once been at loggerheads. This hostile relationship led to incessant killings, displacement of people, loss of lives and property, psychological trauma, migration to other areas and disruption of economic activities, amongst other dire consequences. The study uses the Frustration Aggression theory, Relative Deprivation theory and Masculinity theory to contextualise arguments regarding the reasons for the eruption of violence in this locality. The impact of the violence in eMakhuzeni (Springvale) had far-reaching consequences, the most notable being the underdevelopment it brought to the society as many prominent people who would attract development to the area relocated to other peaceful regions. There was a lack of infrastructure and loss of numerical strength that would have attracted government attention. The study came up with recommendations in the conclusion to end such hostilities among the eMakhuzeni (Springvale) community, namely constructive programmes for youths that would help in empowering them, trauma counselling for the affected community, economic reconstruction and development of the area, building recreational facilities that would aid in intergroup sporting activities, sustenance of the Peace Committee, and encouraging traditional authorities to work with councillors to maintain a peaceful atmosphere within the area.