In several crime-plagued communities across Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, residents express deep frustration and a sense of hopelessness amid ongoing violent incidents that have claimed lives and shattered families. Areas such as Umlazi, KwaMashu, and Inanda have long been associated with high levels of crime, where fear has become a daily reality for many, and the pursuit of justice often feels elusive.
The family of Ziga Mabida, a gardener shot and killed in October last year while on duty, continues to seek answers. The alleged perpetrator was reportedly the son of his employer, but the motive for the killing remains unclear. Mabida’s death has left his children without a father and his mother struggling financially, with no support to sustain herself.
In another heartbreaking case, Mazandi described the trauma of losing her brother, who was shot 20 times in KwaMashu, near the family home, reportedly over a taxi business dispute. The incident was deeply distressing, as her mother witnessed the scene. Beyond the personal loss—her only brother—the attack damaged their family business, including her barber shop, where gunshots ruined furniture and equipment. She highlighted the broader societal impact, noting that such violence has become normalized in townships. “It’s like ubuntu does not really matter,” she said, adding that lives are taken daily with little action, cases often going cold, forcing families to conduct their own investigations. She questioned the state of human rights when the right to life is so brutally violated, emphasizing the ongoing pain and the need for justice to provide closure. In townships, she added, people—especially women—live in constant fear, unable to walk freely due to robberies and violence.
A recent incident in Chatsworth further illustrates these concerns. Twenty-two-year-old Keith Govender was killed after sustaining a stab wound to the head during an attack over a “Donny” (thunee) game at a pool area. A 47-year-old man was charged with the murder but released on R1,000 bail. Family members expressed outrage, viewing the low bail as sending a message that perpetrators can commit crimes and escape serious consequences. They stressed that while nothing can bring Keith back, seeing the perpetrator punished would offer some relief. The family noted the attack occurred in what should have been a safe, recreational space—not a gang-related area—highlighting how violence has infiltrated everyday life. “It was actually a recreational place, a pool area… you would think… my child is just going to play pool and come home,” one relative said, describing it as scary for South Africans to witness such incidents now occurring in their own families and hometowns, rather than distant places seen on television.
These cases underscore repeated infringements on constitutional protections. Section 11 of South Africa’s Constitution clearly states that everyone has the right to life, yet families argue that failures in safety and security allow brazen attacks to persist, eroding this fundamental guarantee. Residents describe a cycle where crime is normalized, justice delayed or absent, and fear dictates daily existence, leaving communities with little to celebrate despite broader national observances.