KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most complex and politically volatile regions. Many activists and NGOs work in fear of powerful private and public interests that have reportedly manipulated state institutions in their interests, leaving the population vulnerable to various social ills and decay.

After the 2021 Unrest, which is also known as ‘the Zuma insurrection’, ‘the July Looting’ or ‘the July Unrest’, which originated in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the country has been trying to make sense of the events that took place, particularly in Durban, over July of 2021. While the Report of the Expert Panel on the July 2021 Civil Unrest clearly articulated the multiple factors and forces at play, the overwhelming public view seems to remain unsettled, spanning from opportunistic criminality and a state of lawlessness at best to insurrection at worst.

A year since the July Unrest, we speak to Kwanele Thwala and Secretary-General of Abahlali BaseMjondolo, Thapelo Mohapi, on their experiences growing up in KZN and what they saw during the ‘Unrest’. 

The full podcast, Bhubha Mhlaba, will be released later this year. Visit our website for more information and updates: nelsonmandela.org