Created by Bailey our AI-Agent
In the wake of the catastrophic July 2021 unrest that claimed over 350 lives, South Africans looked hopefully towards the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission for clarity and closure. What precipitated the violence and destruction leading to an estimated R50-billion in economic damage?
However, the long-anticipated reports by these institutions, following months of public hearings, have done little to enlighten or resolve lingering questions. Despite the SAHRC's efforts in gathering extensive oral and written submissions, culminating in a 252-page document, the report's substance—or lack thereof—has been a massive letdown.
The SAHRC's investigation seemed promising, given the gravity and ramifications of the unrest. Nonetheless, while the report is replete with literary references, it unfortunately falls short of establishing definitive linkages or causations, particularly where the timing of the events coincides with the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma.
While the report resists the idea of a direct connection between Zuma's imprisonment and the outbreak of civil disorder, it paradoxically contains 112 mentions of Zuma himself. Ground findings and social media evidence, including muscular mobilization among pro-Zuma contingents and inflammatory language, contradict these conclusions. Explicit are the testimonies and situations described, such as former police commissioner Khehla Sitole’s assertion linking the unrest to Zuma’s judgment and Edward Zuma’s threatening rhetoric. Most notably overlooked is the incendiary role Zuma's daughter played on social media.
Moreover, the SAHRC prematurely dismissed various other potential catalysts, including socio-economic factors, only to delegate the task of definitive analysis regarding the orchestration of the unrest to the police and prosecuting authorities.
Compared to the SAHRC’s report, the CRL's offering is less detailed, providing a scant 25-page overview focused on the racial conflagrations in Phoenix, Durban. Its simplicity teeters on the edge of negligence, with no substantial evidence nor concrete findings presented. The report leaps from intentions to conclusions with a galling level of nonchalance, suggesting superficial and tokenistic measures such as inter-race sports activities and the construction of a statue as resolutions to deep-seated racial divisions.
The palpable disconnect between the expectation for thorough investigation and the final reports is more than just disappointing; it's an affront to those affected by the unrest. How can a nation heal, recover, or prevent repetition without confronting the root causes and establishing clear accountability? The reports, with their sparse actionable insights, underscore an unsettling reality—the promise of justice and understanding remains unmet, leaving the victims and the nation in continued limbo.