Durban – The calm in the greater Phoenix area shook at the knife edge for most of this week as a full-blown racial war was averted by the ring of steel provided by the SAPS and Defense Forces and subsequent engagement between community leaders, it is believed that blacks and Native Americans, who live in close proximity to each other have been set on fire by some overzealous patrols man the barricades designed to prevent looters from entering Phoenix homes and businesses, looters, damaged cars, and property of motorists trying to barricade through while some local residents from the neighboring areas of Bhambayi, Amaoti and Zwelisha also reacted with violence could be higher, taking into account missing persons reports and unidentified bodies in morgues. Police Minister Bheki Cele and local C community leader were at hotspots yesterday and tried to reinforce the ceasefire and to plan the way forward. Cele spoke to concerned residents and listened to their concerns. Committees have also been formed in the affected areas to ensure lasting racial harmony. Some residents begged Cele to help them identify and recover the bodies of loved ones who were killed in Phoenix. Zandile Mthembu, 25, said how in Though she had documents proving her ownership of the vehicle she was driving, it was set on fire Monday by a group of Indian men. She and other community members shared with Cele their misfortune with medication for my mother-in-law when I came across a group of people. One hit my car on purpose. It was like being in a movie. When I stopped, it was lit immediately. It was painful to see the car I had worked hard for burn in front of me. ”Mthembu said the men accused her of being a looter and took her to a nearby river where one of them put a gun on straightened her head. “I begged for mercy. I told them that they had already killed me by burning (my car) and attacking me. ”She escaped when an Indian woman suggested walking through a nearby bush and drove when she reached the other side the man and the lady’s son to Mthembu a place of safety. While she was calling her partner there, he was attacked by the same group when he arrived. The police managed to suppress the situation. Mthembu’s partner and other men were arrested but later released. Another man told how his brother was allegedly killed driving home from work because he was black. The incident also occurred on the Phoenix Highway because the roads are still closed. My brother hasn’t been to an Indian’s yard or shop (home), but he was walking on a public street, ”the man said. Police Minister Bheki Cele in Phoenix tried to mediate peace between Indian and black residents. Image: Shelley Kjonstad / African News Agency / ANA The community that worked with Cele called for transparency in the investigation into the killings and assaults on people. Cele said, “We have assembled a team of 10 police officers from outside Phoenix to conduct the investigation. Please cooperate with the police. As a community, please choose people who can be your representatives. ”Umesh Singh, chairman of the Phoenix Police Forum, said yesterday’s meetings had the desired effect as they created a sense of peace that many others have not It was a week and it got the affected communities talking again. It was also encouraging to Singh that Cele promised to deploy more security forces to the area. Singh said that if each elected committee honors its mandate, lasting peace will be achieved from last week’s violence, he said much of it was unnecessary, especially attacking innocent drivers and other passers-by on their way to work. “You can’t restrict people’s movement. We have lived in harmony for so many years. I believe there is a third force at play that is causing the flare up. ”Singh said that through false and propaganda messages, social media fueled the fire, fearing the worst. Xolani Dube, a founder of the Xubera Institute for Research and Development, said society must use the devastation caused by the recent scenes of violence and looting in KZN and Gauteng to build racial relationships and join the arms carry out wiping operations after the violence. He blamed the ruling ANC for the outbreak of violence and simmering racial tensions. “People have relied on the ANC for 27 years. We chose them to power because we believed they would take us to the promised land, but they didn’t. We blame ourselves as blacks for allowing ourselves to be led by people without passion and ethics and morals. ”Dube said that blacks need a certain introspection. “We claim this land is ours, then we shouldn’t burn it. “The problem is that there is a lack of leaders in the black communities. Our leadership expects patronage from the ANC, which has led to townships being neglected. “In the end there are concepts and slogans, but we don’t implement them. The political elite is failing us, as is the black middle class and those who drool over the crumbs of ANC patronage. We have to move away from that. ”Dube said they had gathered a group of like-minded, forward-thinking blacks who are not opportunists but upright citizens to offer practical solutions to an area of concern. Dube said they had 10 workstreams to address various societal issues, including health, logistics, safety and community stakeholder relationships. Duwayne Essa, a campaign bureau for the Institute of Race Relations, said the riots have overtones, attributed to decades of government and policy failures on the part of the government. It has failed to enable economic and employment growth. This made a powder keg situation possible, and the arrest of Jacob Zuma set off the powder keg. “We’re starting a campaign this week to save our economy. It will be our solution to the challenges the country faces. It’s more practical and achievable, ”said Essa.Sunday Tribune
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