Police beef up presence at troubled Durban hostels

16 May 2016 - 21:08 By Tmg Digital

The Kwazulu-Natal provincial government and law enforcement agencies have a clear plan to deal decisively with the scourge of killings and bring about lasting peace at Durban’s Glebelands and KwaMashu hostels‚ says KZN MEC for Community Safety Willies Mchunu. Addressing a welcoming parade for additional police deployed in the province‚ Mchunu over the past few weeks‚ police had been very active and visible on the ground at the two hostels‚ mounting various operations targeting suspected criminals‚ rooting out illegal fire arms and all acts of criminality.The intelligence-led operations had resulted in the arrest of one of province’s most wanted suspects believed to be linked to murders in Glebeland hostel‚ while another wanted suspect had been arrested in KwaMashu.The second suspect was caught with three AK 47 rifles‚ two 9mm pistols‚ three AK47’s magazines and more than 350 live rounds of ammunition for different firearms.He has been positively linked to the murder of a police officer in Gingindlovu in November 2015.“This suspect is wanted for a number of cases‚ including cash-in-transit robberies‚ murders and attempted robberies in KwaZulu-Natal.“Also the suspect’s 20-year-old girlfriend was arrested in KwaMashu and the two will be charged for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunitions‚” Mchunu said.Following the murder of four people in the past few weeks‚ police had also made a breakthrough by arresting a suspect who had masterminded this incident‚ he added.“Now police are on the footsteps of the suspects who actually pulled the trigger and the net is closing in on them.”At the weekend‚ Mchunu continued‚ joint multi-disciplinary‚ cross cluster operations had been conducted at the Glebelands and KwaMashu hostels. This clean-up operation had uncovered one revolver and resulted in the arrest of two suspects for possession of three unlicensed firearms‚ a large quantity of dangerous weapons and uniform belonging to SANDF.“Almost in all murder cases in KwaMashu hostel‚ police have suspects and are now working flat-out to assemble the list of witnesses.“In most cases‚ the main challenge we are faced with is the absence of witnesses‚ as a result some cases are thrown out of court.“Having stated the above enforcement successes‚ government remains committed in improving the security measures in both these hostels. We are in constant discussion with eThekwini Metro to ensure that all outstanding matters are attended to‚” Mchunu stated.He said that since 2014 to date‚ police had arrested 16 suspects implicated in eight murders at Glebelands‚ while a total of 42 rifles and hand guns and 550 rounds of ammunition had been recovered during the same period.He added that police had been deployed on a semi-permanent basis at both hostels...

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