ACCORD, in collaboration with the Kwa-Zulu Natal Social Cohesion Consortium (KZNSCC), recently hosted a Social Cohesion and Conflict Management Training for community leaders in Umlazi, within the eThekwini Municipality in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The training, which took place from 13 – 15 September 2023, was facilitated by ACCORD’s Manager of Applied Knowledge and Learning, Mr Philip Visser, and Ms Sabina Taderera, a trainee on the ACCORD Training of Trainers Programme.
The workshop focused on the use of conflict management tools to foster social cohesion and create spaces to address collective challenges. The participants were asked to reflect on political and communal dialogue as a multi-stage and sustained process that could be used to both transform conflicts and help build collective shared identities. Using a case study specifically made for this training, participants were also able to explore potential negotiated solutions to problems to various contemporary problems.
As one of the largest townships in the South Africa, Umlazi can in many ways, be seen as a microcosm of the country, with associated challenges including high youth unemployment, interrupted service delivery, and high rates of gender-based violence, among others. ACCORD has identified peri-urban environments, like Umlazi as areas of increased concern with regards to peace and security. Such areas often see rapid population growth that outstrips the efforts of city planners and other municipal services, creating a complex nexus of potential conflict triggers. As such, care must be taken to prevent local grievances being exploited by violent actors, or escalating into civil unrest. Fostering social cohesion and building conflict management capacities in such areas can provide resilience to the triggers of violent conflict, while simultaneously creating avenues for local residents to air grievances in a constructive manner.
This was the latest in a number of activities ACCORD has run aimed at building social cohesion and conflict management skills in KwaZulu-Natal, and the organisation will continue to build on its partnership with the KZNSCC to foster more cohesive and resilient societies in the province. ACCORD has also prioritised enhancing the roles of multidimensional stakeholders, such as community leaders, in its five year strategic plan, and as such will continue to build the capacity of local and community leaders across the continent.
