Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and officials from her office yesterday visited the notorious Glebelands hostels in Umlazi, following an outbreak of violence at the beginning of last year that has claimed 56 lives.
Madonsela and her deputy, advocate Kevin Malunga, visited the hostels to speak to residents affected by the violence.
Since the violence broke out, more than 70 people have been shot, with some of the survivors still being treated for their injuries in hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, the protector’s spokesman, Oupa Segalwe, said the visit came after Madonsela’s office was approached by the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (Clea) about the hostel violence.
Segalwe said Madonsela would also visit the nearby Kennedy informal settlement to hear from residents who still lived in shacks.
“The protector was approached over acts of violence that have engulfed the hostel for the past two years,” Segalwe said.
He said Clea was not happy with the lack of action from authorities despite continuous reporting of attacks to police by hostel residents.
“The Clea has expressed unhappiness about alleged inaction on the part of organs of state such as the South African Police Services and the provincial government,” Segalwe added.
Reactions were mixed when Madonsela met with some of the hostel residents, some of whom were willing to talk on record.
Others were in fear of their lives and declined to speak in public about the killings.
Many residents have accused police of working with the criminals behind the killings.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating the accusations.
A Daily Dispatch source at the hostels said residents wanted to know the truth as to who was behind the murders.
“We have seen too much blood in this hostel. The only people who will make sure that this stops is us. “People are scared to talk about the killings but those who are brave enough are doing it for us here,” the source added.
Madonsela visited Block R, where many of the killings have taken place.
Of the 56 killed in the hostel, 46 were from the Eastern Cape.
The last two victims, Gobidolo Majola and Makhosi Majola, were killed a week apart.
Both were from Lusikisiki.
Madonsela also visited Kennedy informal settlement where R31-million was spent on building 700 poorly-constructed temporary houses for residents.
Segalwe said the protector was to meet with the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for human settlements and public works, the provincial police commissioner and Ipid head, among other authorities, today.
Madonsela visits hostel of death
Madonsela and her deputy, advocate Kevin Malunga, visited the hostels to speak to residents affected by the violence.
Since the violence broke out, more than 70 people have been shot, with some of the survivors still being treated for their injuries in hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, the protector’s spokesman, Oupa Segalwe, said the visit came after Madonsela’s office was approached by the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (Clea) about the hostel violence.
Segalwe said Madonsela would also visit the nearby Kennedy informal settlement to hear from residents who still lived in shacks.
“The protector was approached over acts of violence that have engulfed the hostel for the past two years,” Segalwe said.
He said Clea was not happy with the lack of action from authorities despite continuous reporting of attacks to police by hostel residents.
“The Clea has expressed unhappiness about alleged inaction on the part of organs of state such as the South African Police Services and the provincial government,” Segalwe added.
Reactions were mixed when Madonsela met with some of the hostel residents, some of whom were willing to talk on record.
Others were in fear of their lives and declined to speak in public about the killings.
Many residents have accused police of working with the criminals behind the killings.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating the accusations.
A Daily Dispatch source at the hostels said residents wanted to know the truth as to who was behind the murders.
“We have seen too much blood in this hostel. The only people who will make sure that this stops is us. “People are scared to talk about the killings but those who are brave enough are doing it for us here,” the source added.
Madonsela visited Block R, where many of the killings have taken place.
Of the 56 killed in the hostel, 46 were from the Eastern Cape.
The last two victims, Gobidolo Majola and Makhosi Majola, were killed a week apart.
Both were from Lusikisiki.
Madonsela also visited Kennedy informal settlement where R31-million was spent on building 700 poorly-constructed temporary houses for residents.
Segalwe said the protector was to meet with the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for human settlements and public works, the provincial police commissioner and Ipid head, among other authorities, today.
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