The peace deal achieved between residents from KwaZulu-Natal living in Ekurhuleni Hostels is a ground-breaking milestone and provides for the framework to be used to end conflicts in Durban’s hostels such as Glebelands and KwaMashu.

These were the sentiments of KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, during a peace cultural festival event in Huntersfield Stadium in Katlehong on the East Rand in Gauteng on Sunday, 25 October 2015.

Chants and calls for lasting peace both in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal hostels reverberated throughout the stadium where the peace festival was held.

The event and peace deal follows the intervention of amakhosi and Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng Government after hostel residents were previously involved in bloody conflicts in Johannesburg hostels.

The initiative, blessed by His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini, saw several amakhosi whose subjects – based at the Johannesburg hostels – were involved in a conflict, leading initiatives to bring about lasting peace both at the hostels and in their traditional areas in KwaZulu-Natal.

Several people died and others injured in the conflicts involving people from KwaHlabisa, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, and Nquthu who are based in Johannesburg hostels.

Addressing thousands of people in Gauteng today, Mchunu said the initiative has already begun in KwaZulu-Natal hostels such as KwaMashu and Glebelands, as King Zwelithini, amakhosi and government had already intervened in the two hostels.

Mchunu urged residents from KwaZulu-Natal living in Gauteng hostels to now ensure that the peace lasts and if differences arise in future should be settled through talks instead of violence. He emphasized that violence was not the answer, as it only led to killings and prohibited service delivery.

“If you use weapons, people will be killed; children will be orphaned and they will be vengeance which leads to more deaths and misery. We, however, thank you for committing to this peace and we shall use your great example in other areas where differences have occurred,” said Mchunu, adding that government would continue supporting the residents.

Gauteng MEC for Community Safety and Liaison, Sizakele Nkosi-Molobane described the initiative as a landmark, saying it was imperative to champion peace and coexistence among residents.

Mchunu and Nkosi-Molobane urged hostel residents to continue with the peace and ensure that it lasts and unanimously thanked his majesty, King Zwelithini, amakhosi and izinduna for blessing and driving the initiative.

As the festive season draws close, Nkosi-Molobane, said it was imperative that the hostel res idents observed restraint so they could visit KwaZulu-Natal and come back to Gauteng in January 2016 safely.

Yesterday, Mchunu led a delegation of amakhosi and izinduna to the affected hostels while a number of cattle were slaughtered at the Kwesine Hostel to mark the milestone.