40 years on from the Inanda riots: survivors demand justice and reparations

ON THE 40th anniversary of the Inanda riots, survivors and leaders have called for a commission of inquiry, reparations, and a memorial to ensure the events are not forgotten.

They want the inquiry to uncover the cause of the violence and to determine if there was any “orchestration or negligence by the state or politicians”. 

At the time, the unrest claimed three lives and displaced over 1 500 Indian families. 

Last week, IFP councillor, Jonathan Annipen penned a piece in his personal capacity, calling for a commission of inquiry and reparations, so that the victims of the unrest could get justice.

Annipen said the riots were a part of history that had left an “indelible scar on our collective conscience”. 

“What began as political and social tensions ignited into a blaze of violence which left three dead, more than 1 500 people displaced and homes, possessions and precious family heirlooms - accumulated over generations - destroyed.

“The horror is still etched in the memories of survivors. Families fled their burning homes in the dead of night, children clung to their parents in terror, and communities that had once co-existed in uneasy proximity suddenly found themselves torn apart by suspicion, anger, and mistrust," he said. 

“The riots highlighted the dangers of racial polarisation and served as a warning of what could happen when inequality, racial division, and social tension are left unchecked. Sadly, the echoes of 1985 were heard again in the violence of July 2021, when communities turned on one another in an explosion of anger and desperation.

“We cannot afford to repeat this cycle. We must break it by addressing historical injustices and building a society based on equity, justice, and mutual respect. Confronting the past honestly is not about reopening wounds, but about ensuring that those wounds are properly healed." 

He said although 40 years had passed, for survivors and their families, the pain remained as real as it was in 1985. 

“Justice delayed has been justice denied. The State can and must act to foster unity across communities through a commission of inquiry, compensation, psychosocial support, memorialisation, and deliberate efforts.

“To remain silent and to fail to act, is to betray the very principles of justice and reconciliation on which our democracy was founded. The truth behind the causes of the riots has never been formally identified. No independent or impartial commission of inquiry was ever convened to interrogate the events and their root causes,” he said.

“Instead, survivors have had to live with the trauma, rebuild their lives in silence, and bear the burden of a society that has preferred to forget rather than confront. The ripple effects of that economic devastation are still felt today in households that have struggled to regain stability." 

He said families who had lost homes, businesses, and their possessions should be compensated. 

“Reparations could take the form of financial compensation, housing support, educational bursaries for descendants, and targeted economic opportunities. This would not erase the pain but would help restore dignity and repair some of the economic harm caused.

“Counselling and trauma support must be extended to surviving victims and their descendants. Trauma does not dissipate with time, but lingers across generations. A programme of community-based psychosocial support could help address the psychological scars of the riots,” he said.

“The Inanda riots must be formally recognised in our history. A memorial site, museum, or annual day of remembrance should be established to ensure that the events are not forgotten. This would also serve as a reminder of the dangers of racial division and the need to foster unity."

Pravesh Naipal, 60, who lived in Inanda during the riots and formed the Inanda Remembrance Committee in 2020, said he had also joined the call for a commission of inquiry.

Naipal, who now lives in Sea Cow Lake, said when the committee was formed, they wrote to president Cyril Ramaphosa to launch an inquiry into the riots.

“We knew that those who went on the violent rampage were outside forces and not the people who lived in the same community. Yet nothing was done to find out who they were and why they did what they did. Despite getting no response, we will continue to call for an inquiry by writing again to the president and the KZN Premier.

“We want closure, to get to the truth of what happened, and for people who unleashed the violence to be held accountable. We want reparations in any form and a monument in remembrance of those who suffered. Three men from the same family were necklaced and burnt to death, and their families have had to live with the trauma ever since,” said Naipal.

He said most of the residents affected by the violence, and who had lost their relatives, homes and possessions had died over the last 40 years.

“They were waiting for justice but never got it. My mom, Sookdhai Naipal, was 80 years old and died last year. She told me in one of our last conversations that she still hoped to get compensation for the house we lost. At the time, all she was given was a R400 Game voucher for groceries. 

“My mom and I also spoke about our two pet dogs who we had to abandon when we were forced to flee. Most people had to abandon their pets. People suffered during that time and we will continue to call for an inquiry. This week we will send another letter to the president,” he added.

Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, former MPL and leader of the Minority Front, said “the time has come for decisive steps toward truth, justice, and reconciliation”.

She said a commission of inquiry would provide survivors a platform to recount their experiences, uncover the underlying causes, and ensure accountability. 

“Importantly, it would also enable recommendations for reparations and psychosocial support, including counselling, which are still needed for affected families. After the riots, my late husband, Amichand Rajbansi, ensured displaced families were sheltered, fed, and clothed, while relocation sites were established. 

“Yet, decades later, some restitution matters remain unresolved. The government must urgently finalise these cases to restore dignity to those still awaiting justice. Commemoration is equally important. The annual events hosted by the Inanda Remembrance Committee must evolve into broader, government-led initiatives that foster unity and healing,” she said.

Thakur-Rajbansi urged KZN Premier Thami Ntuli to convene a social cohesion programme in Inanda in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the riots by bringing communities together to share their memories and reaffirm peaceful co-existence.

“Artefacts and records of the 1949, 1985, and 2021 riots should be preserved in heritage institutions as permanent reminders of the dangers of racial division. To mark 165 years since Indian arrival, I propose that Indian organisations work with the government to draft a reconciliation manifesto, ensuring that minority rights and historical injustices are addressed within our democratic framework,” she added.

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