Riding the Tiger: Urban Warfare on the East Rand

In the 1990s the black townships of the East Rand have become synonymous with violent conflict. This essay examines this violence and attempts to draw out some trends and themes which have emerged during its course. It examines the efficacy of various measures to intervene in the conflict, such as the National Peace Accord, an the deployment of security forces - the Internal Stability Unit (ISU), the South African Defence Force (SADF), and the disastrous National Peacekeeping Force (NPKF). It is argued that the high levels of crime and violence in the region are exacerbated by social inequalities, poverty and joblessness. These factors become mutually reinforcing with the result that the area's ability to shake off its violent past and begin the task of economic regeneration is compromised. For this reason, a two-prong strategy which combines security and development is necessary.