DURBAN - THE Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities (CRL) has wrapped up its investigation on what caused the conflict between Phoenix and surrounding communities which resulted in the death of 36 people during the July unrest.
The CRL Commission has held several meetings with almost every group that were affected by the unrest in Phoenix and surrounding areas which included Inanda, Bambayi, Zwelisha, KwaMashu and Amaoti.
Speaking to the Daily News on Thursday, after wrapping up the last session at the Coastlands Hotel in Durban, commission spokesperson Mpiyakhe Mkholo said they have finished their investigation – a fact-finding mission to hear the versions of all the affected groups. He added that the commission would soon start the conflict resolution phase – their ultimate goal.
He said the commission wanted to ascertain what triggered the conflict, its impact and what communities wanted to see at the end of the day, before starting the conflict resolution. He said the unprecedented conflicts of July and the resultant deaths necessitated that the CRL facilitate mediation and conflict resolution among the affected communities.
“The need for the intervention was in line with the Constitution and the CRL Rights Act 19 of 2002, which mandates the commission to (a) promote respect for and further the protection of the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities; (b) promote and develop peace, friendship, humanity, tolerance and national unity among and within cultural, religious and linguistic communities, on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and free association; (c) foster mutual respect among cultural, religious and linguistic communities; (d) promote the right of communities to develop their historically diminished heritage; (e) recommend the establishment or recognition of community councils in accordance with section 36 or 37.”
Mkholo said the commission’s intervention was also in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for the rebuilding, reconstruction, stabilising and normalising of communities through partnership and collaborative efforts to facilitate peace, stability, and community integration, adding that these hearings provided a platform to various stakeholders to share their insights about the causes and impact of the violence and conflict experienced in the province in July.
During the process, which ran from August until Thursday he said the commission met women and youth organisations from the affected areas, displaced communities, families of the dead, social activists, victims, community police forums as well residents from Phoenix and surrounding areas.
The commission had also met security companies to explain their role. He refused to discuss the presentations of the affected communities, saying the commission would still meet the relevant government departments, before they release their findings.
Daily News