The Socio-Economic impact of Vigilantes and Political Violence
It would be an oversight to discuss vigilantes and political violence in KwaZulu-Natal without paying attention to the implications thereof, be it economical or social. It should be noted that although vigilantes might have played a role in the socio-economic development of KwaZulu-Natal, it is virtually impossible to state that everything happened as a result of vigilantes' activities. It should also be said that vigilantes and political violence played a role both in hampering and deepening the spirits and lives of many people in KwaZulu-Natal. Nonetheless, they were a cause for concern for the livelihood of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.128
After the lifting of the state of emergency in March 1986, political violence and vigilantism continued to erupt in the KwaZulu-Natal region. It was wrong timing on the side of the Government to lift the state of emergency so soon after it was instituted in July 1985. This blindfold attitude by the Government was believed to be the reason behind the attacks on innocent people. The lifting of the state of emergency also had a serious economic impact on KwaZulu-Natal as a region. Looting by vigilantes was the order of the day. Many shop-owners closed their shops due to the looting. This created a situation whereby many business people in the area had to suffer serious losses as a result of political violence. Others decided to move their businesses elsewhere, which was a serious blow to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal.129
Competition for land constituted another basis for vigilantism. This also resulted in more violence. Those who were without land used all means to secure some land, often in a violent manner, in order to try and generate some income from the produce of the land. Furthermore, those who received land from a chief traditionally owed him military loyalty. In rural KwaZulu-Natal, these military obligations fed the ranks of the vigilantes, whom the IFP then sent to the towns to cause political disruption. Thus, vigilante activities were causing a lot of turmoil. Citizens in KwaZulu-Natal wanted land, and as a result, they had to conduct some form of vigilantism. Their actions were hampering the region economically. Despite the fact that those who were loyal to the chief were given land, they still received it on the basis of political issues. Chief Gideon Zulu also politicised the giving of land by stating that those who belonged to the ANC were assumed traitors to the Zulu nation. As such, they could not be given land to farm.130