Issued by: Ministry for Safety and Security
MEDIA RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR SAFETY ANDNUARY 10, 1997, PRETORIA.
re: ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE POLICE FOR NOT HEEDING A TIP-OFF ABOUT THE INCHANGA MASSACRE
On December 30, 1996, the Minister for Safety and Security, Mr Sydney Mufamadi, requested the head of the Independent Complaints Directorate, Advocate Neville Melville, to investigate allegations apparently made by Mr Blessed Gwala, a member of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature, regarding the failure of the police to heed a tip-off from a member or members of the public that the massacre in which six persons were killed at Inchanga on December 28, 1996, was going to take place.
Advocate Melville has presented a report of the investigation into the allegations to Minister Mufamadi. According to the report, no evidence of the tip-off of the nature alleged had come to light during the course of the investigation.
Minister Mufamadi is satisfied with the outcome of the investigation and gives the assurance that the Police investigation into the massacre itself will continue until is perpetrators are brought to book.
Anyone with information in this regard should contact Advocate Melville at (012) 339 1553.
Issued by Maxwell Mulaudzi on behalf of the Minister for Safety and Security, Mr Sydney Mufamadi
Enquires: 082 373 2005
P.S: Find enclosed a copy of a report prepared by the officer who was tasked to investigate Mr Blessed Gwala's allegations. The tasking of the officer was done by Advocate Melville. (Report to follow)