‘The riots stands as a warning about what happens when mistrust and manipulation divide communities’

EXPERTS have reflected on the legacy of the 1985 Inanda riots, highlighting the need for social cohesion, education, and community support to heal historical wounds and prevent future divisions. Zakhele Ndlovu, a political analyst, said there had not been sufficient or thorough investigations into the riots and that more should have been done to promote social cohesion over the years.

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

“Like the 2021 riots, the masterminds of the 1985 riots were never identified or successfully prosecuted. It is important that victims find closure and this can only happen when the culprits and perpetrators of the riots are punished.

“All the victims of violence need support. However, there are too many victims of violence in South Africa. It becomes a tall order to decide who the government should prioritise and what kind of support is provided,” he added.

Ndlovu said the problem was that leaders were quick to point fingers but reluctant to introspect and take responsibility.

“Nothing was done to promote social cohesion after the 1985 riots. In South Africa, we talk about social cohesion but the question is, how do we actually promote it?

“What programmes are needed for social cohesion to materialise? More should have been done with regard to promoting social cohesion in the Inanda area and broadly, across South Africa.

“We still get some South Africans who stereotype race groups. One of the biggest problems was that too many people were quick to point fingers at others but were reluctant to introspect and take responsibility for their lives,” he said.

“Education can play a huge role in this regard but our government has not prioritised good education. Instead it is obsessed with quantity and not quality. It is sad that young Durbanites know nothing about the 1985 riots. A day of remembrance will serve to educate people about the riots and what division can lead to,” added Ndlovu.