Issued by: The Ministry for Safety and Security
BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ITU & ITB
Following the findings of the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry, the TEC investigation and the announcement by General Roy During that hit squads existed in the KwaZulu Police, I decided to appoint an investigation into the alleged existence of hit squads in that Force. The primary aim of the inquiry was to bring the alleged perpetrators behind the hit squads to book and to prosecute them in a court of law. I decided to appoint a Board (known as the Investigation Task Board) comprising three civilian lawyers to oversee the investigations of the ITU, in view of the abovementioned findings that hit squads existed within the security forces in setting up the investigation, I held discussions with the former Commissioner of the SA Police, Lt General Johan Van der Merwe who supported my initiative. I also called for comment from the MEC for Safety and Security in KwaZulu Natal, the Rev C J Mtetwa.
THE UNREST SITUATION IN KWAZULU-NATAL
Statistics indicate that politically related deaths in the province dropped significantly in September. The Human Rights Committee attributes this to the increased efforts of the security forces. Since the middle 1980s more than 10 000 persons have died in politically motivated violence in KwaZulu-Natal. The conflict has cost the province and the country enormously. It would be impossible to measure the extent of the human suffering generated by the violence. Much of this violence can be attributed to armed persons who carried out attacks on unsuspecting and unarmed civilians in townships and rural areas throughout the province. These brutal murders, which continue today, have directly contributed to the spiral of violence.
Hit squads will not be tolerated by the Government of National Unity and the SA Police Service. They will be investigated, exposed and prosecuted in the Courts. A serious effort has to be made to end the violence in KwaZulu Natal and other affected areas. The prosecution of hiton.