Background of Area | Project Overview | Community Meeting | The Way Forward | ALL MULTIMEDIA

Due to the fact that the issue we were dealing with was particularly sensitive, we needed to be sure that the surrounding discussion was as carefully carried out as possible. The first meeting we held with the community attracted nearly one hundred people, and this meant that the ‘solutions’ offered were tainted by a group mentality of anger.

These ‘solutions’ revolved around killing the Twala and Klaas family members. After being forced to end this meeting early as a result of the police presence we had requested leaving early, we talked to Michael Nikelo and decided to hold another meeting with only the families in order to come to a more measured, peaceful solution.

At the second meeting, the two families began by throwing accusations and attempting to stir up controversy. However, once directed by Matt, the mediator, they began to come to a consensus. The two families decided that the blame for the murder of Gideon Nikelo ought to rest on Luthando and Ayanda, and that the remaining family ought not to be persecuted. We hoped to have Michael relay this information to the community, who was gathering outside in a mob, throwing stones at the meeting place in anger at not having been included in the meeting.

We attempted to tell them that our group and the families had agreed that the two families should meet in private before the Twala and Klaas families apologised to the community in public for threats made against various community members. However, Michael denied that he had agreed to this, so that he would not be seen to be accepting the Twala and Klaas families, who the community hates. This caused the community to become angry, saying that we had lied to them and excluded them from the meeting. After much negotiation, Matt managed to calm the community down.

We are satisfied with the way in which the two families effectively resolved their conflict, but frustrated by the fact that the community bullied Michael into turning on us and negating the resolution. We can only hope that with time, the community will allow the ostracised families to apologise without fear, and integrate back into the community.

See the ALL MULTIMEDIA section to view the letter to the police and a video.