Op-eds

Resilience and unity in the face of violence — standing strong in the Eastern Cape village of Nqileni

Cars were mobilised to help find Dave Martin and Rejane Woodroffe from Nqileni Village. (Photo: Tess Peacock)

15 Sep 2024

Despite the deep systemic challenges facing policing in our area, the resilience, cohesion and organisation of our deep rural community in response to crime, will forever stay with me.

I’ve spent seven years living in Nqileni Village in the Xhora Mouth Administrative Area in the Mbhashe Municipality of the Eastern Cape. For the first six, I secured my door with just a flimsy nail, walked home at midnight and always felt completely safe in this beautiful place. Unfortunately, things changed towards the end of 2023, with a significant rise in crime and violence. This shift is not unique to our village; it reflects broader increases in violent crime, both regionally and nationally.

South Africa’s high crime rate is a tragic consequence of our apartheid history, migrant labour system, trauma, deep inequality, poverty and high unemployment. Yet, the changes here have been particularly painful in a community that has historically been peaceful, safe and – most importantly – my home.

When my dear friends and community pillars, Dave Martin and Rejane Woodroffe, founders of the Bulungula Incubator, were recently assaulted and kidnapped, I was in the second car that went out to find them. Was I trying to save them? Perhaps. Or maybe I just needed to feel like we were doing something – anything. There are no security services here to call, and the police would take hours – three, six, even nine – to arrive. Thankfully, 30 minutes later, the first vehicle pursuing them found them. Only then could I exhale, relieved in every part of my body. Though they had been harmed, they were safe.

Dave and Rejane are not just my friends, they are deeply committed to service and community development. They’ve lived here for 20 years, fully embedded in the community, embracing isiXhosa culture and living with humility, simplicity and authenticity. They have both been the greatest influences on my life.

Though this incident left me terrified for their safety and has made it difficult for me to sleep peacefully in my own home, there is a profound beauty in how the community responded. It is a testament to the depth of Dave and Rejane’s contribution over the years.

Nqileni violence People from villages in the Xhora Mouth Administrative Area of the Eastern Cape marched to the Xhora Police Station on 5 September 2024, demanding action from SAPS to curb the recent surge of violent crime in their communities. (Photo: Zoë Postman)

Thanks to the bravery of Sonwabile Futu, the Bulungula Incubator security guard who escaped and raised the alarm, our local iBhodi (headman) was alerted that they had been kidnapped. Within minutes, with support from community leaders, Jalamba Traditional Council head Nkosi Vuyani Gwebindlala, and local councillors Lungisa Mahobe, Phumelele Methu and Phumzile Msaro, the entire community mobilised. Every taxi driver, spaza shop owner and the local businesspeople sprang into action, shutting down roads to stop the perpetrators from escaping. Anyone with a vehicle was out, determined to find Dave and Rejane and block every possible exit.

At the hospital (Madwaleni), those same community members – taxi drivers and spaza shop owners – were there to ensure Dave and Rejane were safe.

Amid the trauma and chaos, I remember messaging a friend: “There’s so much beauty in the inhumanity.”

The perpetrators are not from our region but video footage and names of the suspects have been provided to police, yet arrests have not been made.

Cars were mobilised to help find Dave Martin and Rejane Woodroffe from Nqileni Village. (Photo: Tess Peacock)

On Friday, 6 September, our community from the Xhora Mouth Administrative Area once again demonstrated incredible strength and unity. More than 300 people mobilised and marched to the Xhora (Elliotdale) Police Station, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators and meaningful actions to ensure the safety of our community and the development projects in our region. We woke at 5am, travelled more than two hours, and insisted on a tangible response from the police. The Equality Collective played a supportive role, providing marshals, transport, food and help with drafting a memorandum to be handed over, but this was truly a demonstration of the community’s collective power.

Since the incident, our local mayor, Samkelo Janda, has visited twice, and for the first time we have seen police cars patrolling our roads. The case has been elevated to one of organised crime, and we will continue to push that an arrest be made soon. Unfortunately, the systemic challenges facing policing in our area run deep. The police stations are severely underresourced, with too few vehicles and officers who lack the basic tools needed to do their jobs.

Despite these challenges, the resilience, cohesion and organisation of our deep rural community will forever stay with me.

We are strong, resilient and powerful. We will not let violence define us. We will keep fighting for our beautiful country, for greater equality, and for meaningful opportunities for young people. Always forward! DM

Tess Peacock is the founder and director of the Equality Collective.

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