1.For many months there have been unacceptably high levels of violence in Glebelands hostel, allegedly linked to the local councillor and criminals who are close to him.  In the course of this violence – which is well documented – people have been killed, and many – including women with protection orders – displaced unlawfully from their rooms. It is alleged that this violence is, among other things, linked to the corrupt allocation of beds by criminals connected to the local councillor.

2.During this violence the Umlazi SAPS has not only failed to deal with the criminals, even when they are openly armed (including with an R5 (which is a police/.military issue) but they have also harassed, assaulted and tortured residents who refuse to collude with these criminals by, e.g. paying kickbacks for bed allocation.  In March Mr Fica died during interrogation by Umlazi detective Captain Cain, and witnesses who were arrested by Fica have been harassed by the same Cain and his members, despite it having been pointed out to Umlazi SAPS management that interfering with witnesses could be viewed as defeating the ends of justice. These witnesses had opened cases of assault after their arrest and release, and two of their statements have disappeared at Umlazi SAPS with no case opened.  The death of Fica, and assault cases, are under investigation by IPID.

3.It is alleged that either the police do nothing to stop the criminal activities or, if they do make arrests, people are on bail and soon back at the hostel complex continuing their criminal activities.  The failure of the police to deal with these known criminals who have access to lethal weapons – despite information having been provided to them – risks not only Glebelands residents but – given the high rates of hijacking an robbery the police appear unable to deal with – all citizens.

4.I accordingly call on you to immediately
4.1.remove Umlazi SAPS from Glebelands and deploy a unit of Public Order policing to restore order in the complex, as has been done in the past during periods of violence in the hostel complex
4.2.constitue a task team of detectives from elsewhere (i.e. not Umlazi SAPS) to deal with the large number of cases which have been opened by residents, details of which I shall forward to you in due course.

A failure of your offices to take remedial steps as suggested above will further risk the lives of Glebelands’ residents and indicate that the SAPS does not take its constitutional duty – i.e.to prevent criminal violence  – seriously and is complicit in defeating the ends of justice.

Issued by KZN Violence Monitor