Lisa Isaacs
KHAYELITSHA has recorded the highest incidence of mob killings in the last decade, a study has found.
The study, by members of the Stellenbosch University’s faculty of medicine and health sciences, between 2003 and 2012, which was published in this month’s South African Medical Journal, says that violence is the leading cause of death in South Africa, accounting for more than one-third of all unnatural deaths.
The review of fatal community assault (CA), also called mob or vigilante killings cases, was observed at the Tygerberg forensic pathology services.
A total of 424 cases of fatal CA were seen during the study period, with an annual increase between 2003 and 2007 and a second peak in 2012. There was a drop in CA fatalities noted in 2010, which could be attributed to the strict policing enforced during the Soccer World Cup, the study said.
The cause of death in most cases was multiple injuries at 42 percent, with blunt-force trauma being the basis of most injuries sustained. Only one female fatality was recorded, and the youngest victim was 14 years old and the oldest 62.
In some cases, bloodied objects were found at the scene of the crime, including stones, wooden sticks and bricks.
In over 10 percent of cases, definite evidence of restraint was seen, with hands and/or feet and/or neck bound.
Most fatalities were reported in Khayelitsha, with 166 incidents; with Harare at 84 and Mfuleni at 47. Delft, Kraaifontein and Lingelethu West also recorded incidents.
However, when considering the total population per area, the highest burden of injury is seen in Mfuleni, with 73 CA deaths per 100 000.
Criminologist Gail Super said marginalised communities in South Africa had a history of self-policing.
“Moreover, political violence has always played a prominent role in local politics. The danger of rallying communities around crime combating is that it can, and does, unleash violent practices in the quest for a ‘moral community’,” she said.
“The ironic twist is that ‘mob justice’ is in part a mass technology to protect private property in a context of endemic inequality. When community members unite against an outsider, they are bonded for an intense moment in a way that masks the very real problems that tear the community apart and/or separate it from other less or more socially connected and empowered communities.”
Chumile Sali, of the Social Justice Coalition, said the report was “not surprising”, and vigilante killings were prevalent in townships because of a lack of police presence.
“A place like Rondebosch has more police and resources than Nyanga and Khayelitsha. It is the picture of inequality.”
Major Mngxaji, of the Khayelitsha CPF, said interventions such as workshops to build a relationship with police and discourage communities from taking justice into their own hands were bearing results. “The information that we have is that the situation is better than other years, and that the number (of incidents) has come down tremendously.”
Police in the Khayelitsha Cluster recorded at least 18 mob killings during the first seven months of the year.
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