THE killing of IFP supporter Siya Dlamini has elevated the conflict in KwaZulu-Natal to a full-blown war.
Dlamini was allegedly shot by NFP working committee member Mzonjani Zulu outside the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court.
Zulu and Dlamini were among people who had come to the court for the appearance of four men in connection with the shooting of an IFP supporter at Durban's KwaMashu Hostel.
Dlamini's death brings to four the number of those killed in the area in the past week. It is estimated that 35 people have been killed so far this year in the province in what is said to be a low-intensity war affecting the IFP, ANC and NFP.
Unlike the war between the ANC and the IFP that ravaged the province two decades ago - leaving at least 20000 dead - the current conflict involves both intra-party and inter-party killings.
Analysts and political leaders believe the current war is driven by greed and the fight for political office - seen as a pathway to material gain.
Following Dlamini's killing on Monday, the community has called on President Jacob Zuma to deploy the army in the province.
Those making the call are obviously not convinced that the police have the situation under control.
There are also those who believe that the police are doing the best they can but are obviously unable to stem the blood-letting.
This, unfortunately, creates a situation where institutions like the army - trained in containing conflict situations through the use of force - are being called in to assist the police.
By calling for the army, the community believes that the province is now in a war situation. Unfortunately, the Monday tragedy does nothing to divest them of this impression.
Compounding the situation further is the brazen display of dangerous weapons by some of the followers of the various parties.
In view of this, we support the call by some community members for these war-mongers to be disarmed.
Indeed, history has shown that in conflict situations hostels have proved to be the bases from where the warmongers can launch their attacks - sometimes with impunity.
While the police are doing their best by investigating the various cases and arresting some of the suspects, they should take the bold step of raiding the hostels for weapons - like the police did in the case of Marikana.
This will go a long way in showing the warmongers that they do not have a free hand.
Act against warmongers
THE killing of IFP supporter Siya Dlamini has elevated the conflict in KwaZulu-Natal to a full-blown war.
Dlamini was allegedly shot by NFP working committee member Mzonjani Zulu outside the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court.
Zulu and Dlamini were among people who had come to the court for the appearance of four men in connection with the shooting of an IFP supporter at Durban's KwaMashu Hostel.
Dlamini's death brings to four the number of those killed in the area in the past week. It is estimated that 35 people have been killed so far this year in the province in what is said to be a low-intensity war affecting the IFP, ANC and NFP.
Unlike the war between the ANC and the IFP that ravaged the province two decades ago - leaving at least 20000 dead - the current conflict involves both intra-party and inter-party killings.
Analysts and political leaders believe the current war is driven by greed and the fight for political office - seen as a pathway to material gain.
Following Dlamini's killing on Monday, the community has called on President Jacob Zuma to deploy the army in the province.
Those making the call are obviously not convinced that the police have the situation under control.
There are also those who believe that the police are doing the best they can but are obviously unable to stem the blood-letting.
This, unfortunately, creates a situation where institutions like the army - trained in containing conflict situations through the use of force - are being called in to assist the police.
By calling for the army, the community believes that the province is now in a war situation. Unfortunately, the Monday tragedy does nothing to divest them of this impression.
Compounding the situation further is the brazen display of dangerous weapons by some of the followers of the various parties.
In view of this, we support the call by some community members for these war-mongers to be disarmed.
Indeed, history has shown that in conflict situations hostels have proved to be the bases from where the warmongers can launch their attacks - sometimes with impunity.
While the police are doing their best by investigating the various cases and arresting some of the suspects, they should take the bold step of raiding the hostels for weapons - like the police did in the case of Marikana.
This will go a long way in showing the warmongers that they do not have a free hand.
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