Menslike verbrandings: ‘n sosio‐politieke ondersoek na die aard en impak van k ataklismiese geweld in Suid Afrika

ABSTRACT

HUMAN BURNINGS: A SOCIO‐POLITICAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE NATURE AND IMPACT OF CATACLYSMIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Increased polarisation and escalating cataclysmic violence in South Africa, especially since 1984, have dramatically been brought to the attention of all segments of society as well as the international community through the phenomenon of the burning of people by way of the so‐called “necklace‐method”. An effort is made in this article to explain human burnings in terms of certain vital societal parameters such as the relevance of traditional beliefs and practices, the concept of” instant justice”, the role of the media and rumours, group dynamics in which the process of” scapegoating” figures prominently, as well as political phenomena such as the deprivation ‐frustration ‐aggression hypothesis and aspects of rational choice such as the functionality of intimidation in order to make society ungovernable in terms of revolutionary strategy. Various alternatives for future research in this vital field are suggested.