Necklacing:

Today, we delve into one of the most horrific forms of punishment and vigilante violence in modern history—necklacing. Despite its seemingly benign name, necklacing stands as one of the cruelest and most brutal forms of torture and violence to emerge in the 20th century.

The act involves either binding the victim's hands with barbed wire or amputating them, followed by the application of gasoline to a rubber tire, which is then placed around the victim's head and torso, forming a gruesome necklace. The name "necklacing" aptly captures the ghastly nature of this practice. Once the tire is set ablaze, the victim is left to endure an excruciatingly slow and painful death.

The brutality extends beyond the fire itself, as the victim must also contend with the effects of smoke inhalation and the scorching, molten rubber as the tire continues to burn. The gruesome spectacle ceases only when the body becomes an unrecognizable, charred husk.

The history of necklacing is relatively short, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka in the 1960s. However, it gained notoriety during the 1980s in South Africa as a form of resistance against the inhumane apartheid system.

Apartheid, a system of institutional racial segregation that persisted in South Africa and Namibia from the 1940s until the early 1990s, was deeply rooted in the nation's history. Its origins can be traced back to the early interactions between European colonizers and the indigenous population in the 17th century. Subsequent conflicts, including the Khoikhoi-Dutch wars, led to the displacement of entire villages and the establishment of Dutch-owned farms staffed by enslaved individuals.

South Africa's tumultuous history continued as the region changed hands between Dutch and British control, leading to the coalescence of British and Dutch cultures. The passage of laws following the abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom in 1833 maintained a form of coerced labor akin to indentured servitude for Black natives and People of Color.

The post-World War II period witnessed increased industrialization, leading to an influx of poor Black Africans into cities in search of better employment opportunities. This migration was met with resistance from white Afrikaners who feared job competition and the potential for social mobility among Black Africans. In response, the National Party introduced apartheid in 1948, segregating the population into four racial quadrants: White, Black, Colored, and Indian.

Under apartheid, a multitude of laws were enacted to enforce racial segregation, stripping Black and Colored individuals of their voting rights and confining them to designated areas. Interracial marriages were prohibited, and citizens were assigned to racial groups. The government further enforced racial segregation in public spaces, media censorship, and the suppression of opposition groups.

The African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organizations faced mass arrests and bans on their activities, while the government used violence and torture to maintain its grip on power.

Necklacing emerged as a brutal but controversial tool in the anti-apartheid struggle. Initially, immolation was used as a form of punishment for those suspected of spying on anti-government groups. Necklacing, the gruesome evolution of this tactic, was employed to send a terrifying message to potential informants and collaborators. While some within the anti-apartheid movement considered it a necessary evil to deter betrayal, others, including Desmond Tutu, vehemently opposed it.

Winnie Mandela, a prominent activist and the wife of Nelson Mandela, openly endorsed necklacing in 1986, stating that it was a means of resistance against the brutal apartheid regime. Her support for this brutal method strained her relationship with the ANC, which distanced itself from her.

Despite the end of apartheid in 1994, necklacing has continued to be employed as a form of mob justice in South Africa, especially in cases where communities feel underserved by law enforcement. Recent incidents demonstrate that the practice persists in the 21st century.

The history of necklacing serves as a haunting reminder of how even individuals fighting for freedom and equality can resort to extreme violence. What began as an intimidation tactic evolved into a brutal instrument of mob justice, leaving a dark stain on modern history.

As we reflect on this gruesome chapter, it is essential to remember the suffering endured by those subjected to necklacing and the enduring impact of such violence on societies scarred by oppression and inequality.