'Death squad' probe as cops are redeployed

The authorities are cracking down on an alleged police hit squad exposed by the Sunday Times last week as more evidence of executions of suspects has emerged.

On Friday, the Hawks announced that members of its notorious Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit, fingered as being central to several murders in KwaZulu-Natal, have been redeployed pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

The dramatic move comes in the wake of a decision by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) to set up a special task team to probe the "hit squad".

Human rights groups have also called on the government for swift action.

This week, relatives of witnesses to at least six more suspicious killings came forward.

In one case, members of the unit are alleged to have told the relative of two suspects that he "must see how we treat criminals" before executing them.

The Hawks said members transferred to other units in Durban included warrant officers Shane Naidoo and Mossie Mostert.

The head of the Hawks in North West, Major-General Jan Mabula, will lead the investigating team. And, given the sensitivity surrounding the case, no members from KwaZulu-Natal will feature in the team.

The ICD confirmed that six members of the Cato Manor unit were, or had been, investigated, including Naidoo and Mostert.

Naidoo said he welcomed the inquiry.

"There is nothing to hide. Whatever we did was above board. I'm not willing to comment any further," he said.

Mostert could not be reached for comment.

Last week, the Sunday Times detailed evidence of at least 16 assassinations allegedly carried out in seven shooting incidents by members of the unit - some allegedly in retaliation for cop killings and ongoing taxi violence in the province.

The unit, which falls under the ultimate command of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Major-General Johan Booysen, has killed scores of suspects in the last three years.

Last week Booysen said it was unfair to brand Cato Manor a hit squad because of their high kill rate, as they had made 437 arrests, including some "very violent people".

In the wake of the exposé, Booysen said he would not comment until the probes had been concluded. He was "confident that, out of this investigation, the truth will be revealed".

But first-hand accounts of two of the shootings by several witnesses who spoke to the Sunday Times contradicted the official version of police acting in self defence.

The witnesses have refused to make sworn statements to the ICD, because they fear they will be killed.

The Hawks announcement of the redeployments appears to be an about-turn sparked by the ICD's decision to set up a task team to review the Cato Manor killings.

Earlier this week, Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said a case of theft had been opened "to determine and deal with the individuals who stole the pictures [published in the Sunday Times] from the police".

Meanwhile, SA Human Rights Commission spokesman Vincent Moaga said it was hoped that the police involved in the "death squad" were put behind bars.

"[We] find it repugnant that those who should be upholding the rule of law by investigating [those found] to have been involved in the killing of police officers are, unfortunately, the ones who are accused of involvement in crime," he said.

The ICD's task team, to be led by its Limpopo head, Innocent Khuba, will now review all cases involving members of the Cato Manor unit.

"Any information [including the identity of witnesses] provided to the task team will be treated with confidentiality," the ICD said.

"There is also a witness protection programme through which the safety of witnesses can be safeguarded. This programme is available to those who fear for their lives.

"Information can also be provided to the task team anonymously."

Khuba can be contacted at ikhuba@icd.gov.za or 0847022741.

 - investigations@sundaytimes.co.za