Rights Commission: Mistrust led to racial killings during July unrest
The CRL Rights Commission on Monday released its findings into the racial tensions that boiled over in Phoenix during the civil unrest in July 2021.
The Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission says racial discrimination remains prevalent in the northern Durban area and its surrounds.
Thirty-six people were killed in Phoenix during the riots that hit KZN and Gauteng over two years ago.
Professor Luka Mosoma presented the commission's final report on unrest in Umhlanga.
"The mistrust and suspicion of the Africans by the Indians allegedly led the killings of Africans by Indians, as cited by some of the members of the community, and this in their view has a historical genesis or historical origin in 1949 events. Further, it was cited that the causes of unrest were criminality, organised crime and inequality that exist in these community," said Mosoma.
Mosoma said these factors make it difficult for the communities in the area to co-exist and foster values such as friendship and peace.
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"As a result, the 2021 unrest bound a ready fertile ground to spread suspicion amongst the community."
The CRL made some recommendations.
"We recommend programs that address racism mindset chain which affirms the humanity of others irrespective of race, gender, language; must be introduced in schools and community," Mosoma said.
The CRL's report was released alongside the South African Human Rights Commission's findings into the unrest.
The SAHRC sayid while it found no evidence linking the arrest of former president Zuma to the riots, there is evidence showing they were orchestrated.