Police step up efforts to curb violence at Glebelands and KwaMashu hostels

14 May 2016 - 16:29 By TMG Digital

Police have carried out raids on Durban’s notorious Glebelands and KwaMashu hostels in an effort to try to curb the internecine violence that has plagued the two hostels for the past few years. Police have also vowed to continue with operations until normality returns to the hostels and the “wrongdoers” are behind bars.“The Glebelands and KwaMashu hostels have in recent times been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons‚ with the amount of murders which have taken place in both the Hostels. Many interventions such as Imbizos and dialogues have been undertaken to try and address the shedding of blood in the hostels but those have yielded little positive results.“The police in KwaZulu-Natal have stepped up their efforts in stemming the flow of blood in both the hostels. That is the reason why relentless operations are on going in the two notorious hostels at uMlazi and KwaMashu‚” said Kwazulu-Natal police spokesman Brigadier Jay Naicker.He added that on Friday‚ units from different disciplines in the police had conducted a joint operation at both hostels. The units comprised members from stations in both clusters‚ K9 Units‚ Pretoria and Durban Public Order Police‚ Vehicle Identification Section‚ Flying Squad‚ Crime Intelligence and Metro Police.“After a short briefing‚ members proceeded to the Glebelands hostel where seven blocks of flats were thoroughly searched and one (1) revolver was recovered. A large quantity of dangerous weapons were also seized as well as uniform belonging to the South African Defence Force. Members spent hours in the hostel being visible in the quest to claim back the space occupied by criminals.“Prior to the high visibility operation‚ an intelligence driven operation was conducted at Glebelands where two suspects were arrested after they were found in possession of three firearms. All four firearms will be subjected to ballistics tests to establish if they were used in any crimes‚” Naicker said.The next target was the infamous KwaMashu hostel.“Members painted A Section blue‚ they covered every inch of the hostel conducting crime prevention duties and vehicle check points. At KwaMashu one suspect was arrested for being in possession of stolen property‚ one for possession of drugs and another for rape. A large quantity of dangerous weapons were also seized while a number of people were charged for traffic violations. These operations will be on going until normality returns in both the hostels and all the wrong doers put behind bars‚” Naicker added.KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni thanked both Cluster Commanders for initiating the joint cross cluster operation.“We have a large contingent of public order policing members who are part of a permanent National deployment for both hostels. We will ensure that the increased level of visibility and policing continues in earnest. We urge communities in both hostels to come forward with concrete information that can be operationalised. It is in all our interests to ensure that criminal elements are put behind bars‚” she said...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.