Durban riots
The Durban riots was an uprising that took place between 13–15 January 1949, primarily involving Zulu and Indian people in Durban, South Africa. The two days of rioting resulted in 143 deaths, of which 87 Africans, 50 Indians, 1 white and 4 others whose identity could not be determined. 1087 people were injured, of which 541 Africans, 503 Indians, 11 Coloureds and 32 whites. Of the injured 58 died.
Friday riots
On Friday, African leaders from Cato Manor organized rioters from workers' hostels and from social networks such as the ingoma dancing troupes and boxing clubs. Taking advantage of the slow police intervention, the assailants attacked the Indian business area with an assortment of improvised weapons, attacking both property and people. Numerous reports suggest that European whites cheered the African assailants and joined in looting Indian stores. Donald L. Horowitz notes in his book, The Deadly Ethnic Riot: "A number of European women urged the Natives [Africans] on to 'hit the coolies [Indians]'. Thereafter they went dancing up the street with the Natives. The pictorial record shows Europeans actively inciting the Natives, or evincing all the signs of enjoyment at their excesses."[1]
Saturday riots
By Saturday, the military and police were mostly able to establish order although limited violence occurred in Pietermaritzburg a few days later.[2][3]
Aftermath
The riots resulted in the massacre of mostly Indians in which 142 people died and 1087 people were injured. 300 buildings were destroyed and 2000 structures were damaged. It also created 40,000 Indian refugees, followed by a wave of suicides among Indians, as a result of the disintegration of their families, economic failure, stress, humiliation and racist discrimination.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Horowitz, Donald (2001). The Deadly Ethnic Riot. University of California Press. p. 346. ISBN 9780520236424.
Donald Horowitz Durban Riots European women.
- ^ "The Durban riots, 1949". South African History Online. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ^ a b Soski, Jon. "African Nationalism, Indian Diaspora and Kwa-Zulu".
