Dealing with conflict: a case of KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC)’s engagement with the land-owners and land-dwellers.

Abstract

The study investigated land conflict and the KZNCC‟s engagement with the landowners and land dwellers in Dannhauser. The study sought to explore the role played by the KZNCC in engaging with the landowners and land dwellers to resolve conflict, to determine the factors that promote land conflict and best conflict management strategies. The study used exploratory research as the main research design. The study used qualitative research techniques and data was collected using interviews as the main data collection tool. The study also found that the population of the municipality consisted of 102 161 people. The population densities were found to be higher in the traditional authority areas in the north-eastern of the municipal area and in the town of Dannhauser itself. A targeted sample size of 11 respondents were identified to participate in this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents to participate in this study based on the qualities that they are better suited to respond to the questions. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The qualitative results revealed that the nature of conflict is due to evictions, invasion of white farmers’ property and farmers’ insecurities. Furthermore, the results of qualitative results showed that the factors that fuelled conflict include non-availability for black people, land restitution and salary increments. The results of the study further showed that the KZNCC‟s role was not recognized and that it was not effective in dealing with conflict. In light of these findings, the study recommends that illegal evictions must be stopped, and the government must make alternative housing to the evicted victims. Furthermore, the government must speed up the process of land restitution so that land can return to black people.