A University of KwaZulu Natal student, Ryan Henry, who recently obtained his Master’s degree in Political Science, based his dissertation on investigating the underlying causes of the KwaZulu Natal July 2021 unrest.
Mr Henry’s findings revealed that the “unrest was sparked by ingrained inequality, poverty and unemployment due to the unaddressed legacies of apartheid; coupled with the peculiar socio-political environment of KwaZulu-Natal, these played a crucial role in the events, which were not isolated incidents but rather a symptom of larger issues”.
Proud of his achievement, Mr Henry says this is not the end to his academic endeavours.
“This is one of many I plan to achieve. I want to study further, perhaps another Master’s or my PhD. I aim to expand into other fields of academia while giving back the gift of knowledge,” said Mr Henry.
He credits his supervisor, Siyabonga Ntombela for teaching academic thought and not just writing.
“It has been an honour and an enlightening experience. Mr Ntombela, Dr Sayeed and Dr Emser instilled a passion for academia through their course work which impacted me greatly. Political ideas begin in books but find their way around the globe,” he said.
His study investigated the underlying causes of the unrest which affected KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021.
“It’s severity as well as the divisions and tension it caused were felt by me and many other South Africans. The unrest was sparked by ingrained inequality, poverty and unemployment due to the unaddressed legacies of apartheid. Coupled with the peculiar socio-political environment of KwaZulu-Natal, these played a crucial role in the events, which were not isolated incidents but rather a symptom of larger issues,” said Mr Henry.
The study also investigated the underlying factors contributing to social discord among key players in the unrest and the state’s response to “collective rule-breaking”. It highlights the consequences of disregarding class struggle and its influence on social cohesion and the extent to which proficient policing would have served as a deterrent.
Mr Henry’s findings showed that when marginalised groups experienced significant grievances, they often formed a class, enabling them to express their dissatisfaction through looting, arson, and murder.
He hopes his study will benefit society by drawing attention to the issues specific to KwaZulu-Natal that triggered the unrest and that this might enable government to be more aware and better prepared in the future.
“Government entities must pursue more efficacious strategies aimed at addressing socio-economic disparities and diminishing inequality between the affluent and disadvantaged segments of society,” said Mr Ntombela.
“Ryan’s dissertation investigated social discontent and its causes fuelled by existential realities such as poverty, inequality, and poor service delivery that sparked the July 2021 unrest triggered by the arrest of Former President Jacob Zuma. This was a necessary and much anticipated study considering the impact of the unrest and its implications. I believe he did justice to this challenging topic,” he said.
