Report Submitted to the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry On Vigilantism/Crowd Violence Presented by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela University of the Free State 15 May 2014

Report based on the following: Report on “Bundu Courts” Report on “Bundu Courts” Interviews in Khayelitsha Interviews in Khayelitsha Transcripts from the Commission Transcripts from the Commission

OVERVIEW Focus on psychological and institutional issues Focus on psychological and institutional issues Vigilante violence analysed as crowd or collective violence Vigilante violence analysed as crowd or collective violence Discuss psychological theories of collective violence Discuss psychological theories of collective violence Linking trauma, humiliation & violence Linking trauma, humiliation & violence Structural issues Structural issues Conclusion & recommendations Conclusion & recommendations

Khayelitsha vigilante killings (KVKs), crowd violence, “necklace” murders: similarities We heard a woman screaming “I-bag yam! I-bag yam! Nal’isela! (“My bag! My bag! Here is a thief!”) In no time, I mean, in no time, everybody was coming out, slamming doors behind them. I mean, it was like a split second – and they were all dressed in their clothes [....] Rocks on the street were thrown at him. In no time, the man was gone – in no time – they had finished him. We heard a woman screaming “I-bag yam! I-bag yam! Nal’isela! (“My bag! My bag! Here is a thief!”) In no time, I mean, in no time, everybody was coming out, slamming doors behind them. I mean, it was like a split second – and they were all dressed in their clothes [....] Rocks on the street were thrown at him. In no time, the man was gone – in no time – they had finished him. *** ***

KVKs & crowd violence, similarities A trigger event  mobilises the crowd into action A trigger event  mobilises the crowd into action Spontaneous with little evidence of planning Spontaneous with little evidence of planning The violence seems irrational The violence seems irrational No clear evidence of a leader; some actors more prominent than others No clear evidence of a leader; some actors more prominent than others Violence = collective action of the group rather than individuals Violence = collective action of the group rather than individuals Crowd appears to have “one mind” in executing punishment. Crowd appears to have “one mind” in executing punishment.

Perspectives on crowd violence Perspectives from Khayelitsha interviews Perspectives from Khayelitsha interviews Social psychological theories Social psychological theories –Limitations Trans-generational trauma, humiliation and violence Trans-generational trauma, humiliation and violence –Research studies Relevance of structural issues Relevance of structural issues

Social psychological theories: “Deindividuation” Crowd participants become disinhibited Crowd participants become disinhibited They lose their self-awareness  “mob behaviour” They lose their self-awareness  “mob behaviour” Feelings of anonymity Feelings of anonymity Suggestibility under influence of the crowd, etc. Suggestibility under influence of the crowd, etc. Loss of sense of self (Edward Diener, 1980s) Loss of sense of self (Edward Diener, 1980s) The conceptual framework that underpins these ideas is referred to as deindividuation (Philip Zimbardo “prison experiments”, 1970s )

Soc. Psych. Theories: “Social identity theory” Main Tenets of SIT: Behaviour has purpose & limits; derives from the emotional significance of group membership Behaviour has purpose & limits; derives from the emotional significance of group membership Transition to more collective & less personal identity Transition to more collective & less personal identity Self-perception as group member : self-categorisation Self-perception as group member : self-categorisation Identifying with groups’ belief system and rules of engagement in relation to outsiders Identifying with groups’ belief system and rules of engagement in relation to outsiders Significance of social context Significance of social context

Limitations of SIT Deindiv.  implies pathology SIT  undue emphasis on power of context

Humiliation, trauma: Link to violence Exposure to repeated trauma in home and Exposure to repeated trauma in home and community has major consequences in the mind community has major consequences in the mind Trauma plays significant role in the genesis of entrenched behavioural patterns Trauma plays significant role in the genesis of entrenched behavioural patterns And in repetitious cycles of violence And in repetitious cycles of violence Often experienced as sense of humiliation Often experienced as sense of humiliation

Dynamics of Trauma  Traumatic “memory”: Internalisation of traumatic experience  the internal representation of the past  Dissociation  compartmentalisation of experience  “Working through” & “acting out” trauma  Re-enactment of trauma  trans-generational transmission of trauma

Trans-generational transmission of trauma & violence Unresolved Trauma can be transmitted across Unresolved Trauma can be transmitted across generations generations “Acted out” through violence “Acted out” through violence Greater intensity when trauma experienced by a community or group: Greater intensity when trauma experienced by a community or group: See Vamik Volkan (2006). Killing in the name of identity.

Cycles of Repetition (across generations) Attempt at mastery Attempt at mastery Attempt to integrate traumatic material Attempt to integrate traumatic material Desire to escape the cycle of pain Desire to escape the cycle of pain Attempt to reclaim control, identity, dignity Attempt to reclaim control, identity, dignity Repetition of trauma = Finding language to express helplessness Repetition of trauma = Finding language to express helplessness Studies on link between humiliation & violence *** Studies on link between humiliation & violence ***

Structural realities reinforcing humiliation Safety and security in informal settlements Safety and security in informal settlements Few resources for survival; unemployment, social supporting frameworks at bare minimum Few resources for survival; unemployment, social supporting frameworks at bare minimum Increasing size & density of informal settlements creates a sense of “anonymity” Increasing size & density of informal settlements creates a sense of “anonymity” Lack of visible police presence fosters culture of impunity Lack of visible police presence fosters culture of impunity People’s needs not given serious recognition. People’s needs not given serious recognition. Violence emerges as a cultural norm  Violence emerges as a cultural norm  Social anomie Social anomie

Vigilante incidents and time of occurrence Vigilante incidents and time of occurrence

Vigilante Killings: Description of Perpetrators