Social discontent and class struggle: A case of KwaZulu-Natal July 2021 socio-political unrest.

Abstract

This study explores the underlying causes of the July Unrest-2021 using the theories of scholars such as Karl Marx and Frantz Fanon. It investigates the impact of these causes by looking at the underlying factors contributing to social discord among key players in the July Unrest- 2021. The exploration looks at how the state responded to instances of ‘collective rule- breaking’ as an element of lawlessness. The consequences of disregarding class struggle and its influence on social cohesion. Furthermore, the extent to which proficient policing would have served as a deterrent against social unrest. The study found that poverty, crime, inequality, poor service delivery, and racism are apartheid’s legacy and government inefficiencies. In addition, when marginalised groups experience significant grievances, they often form a class, allowing them to express their dissatisfaction through looting, arson, and murder.

The research was conducted through a desktop study that utilised secondary data from multiple data sources, such as Internet scholarly materials, books, and newspapers. Articles and media clips gather information; content analysis analyses the information; and relational analysis investigates the relationships between concepts. The study advocates for governmental entities to pursue more efficacious strategies aimed at improving the socioeconomic disparities and diminishing the prevailing inequality between affluent and disadvantaged segments of society within the context of South Africa. This recommendation is predicated upon the recognition that the persistence of economic deprivation engenders a milieu characterised by heightened susceptibility to incitement and unrest within the societal fabric.