WHEN South Africa moved towards a democracy, a mini war seemed to match the pace in KwaZulu-Natal.

Arguably no other region of the country shed more blood ahead of getting freedom.

Many will say the history of the province is written in blood and that that, in whatever guise, political or otherwise, are is of the tapestry that makes KZN.

As blood flowed, with April 27 1994 moving closer, some kind of peace was brokered that held only just as the Inkatha Freedom Party agreed to contest the elections.

The truce held long enough to provide a semblance of peace reigning in the province, while the business of making this New South Africa work kept the nation preoccupied.

Fast forward to 18 years later and the ugly spectre of violence in KZN has seemingly reared its ugly head again.

Any soul snuffed out in the name of politics is one life too many.

History has taught us that the nation needs to pay special attention to that part of the country once anything resembling the wars of pre-1994 appears.

So far 41 people have been murdered since 2010. That should raise alarm bells.

Worryingly, political parties involved have chosen to, well, play politics. The National Freedom Party, IFP, from which it broke away about two years ago, and the governing ANC have failed to lead while arguing about the causes of the violence.

It would be so laughable were it not so serious.

The politicians in KZN need to put the people first.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies need to bring those pulling the trigger, literally or otherwise, to justice quickly to restore public trust in the rule of law.