Reconciliation Day: Unresolved past conflicts threaten stability, warns Premier Ntuli

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says the July 2021 unrest exposed how unresolved past conflicts continue to affect stability within communities.

Premier Ntuli delivered these remarks on Tuesday during the Day of Reconciliation event held in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal. President Cyril Ramaphosa was also in attendance at the ceremony.

During his address, the Premier made specific reference to the deadly shootings in Phoenix, where 36 people were killed, allegedly by a group of vigilantes during the unrest in July 2021.

Ntuli emphasised that such events have a profound impact on the nation’s democracy. He noted that the violence served as a stark reminder of the underlying tensions that still exist in the province.

“Here in KwaZulu-Natal, the July 2021 unrest reminded us how unresolved inequality, social exclusion, and political manipulation can erupt into disruption—in fact, undermining lives, livelihoods, and hard-won democratic gains,” said Ntuli.

READ: Reconciliation Day: Premier Ntuli urges continuous action to curb rural violence