KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu applauds a major breakthrough by the police in KwaMashu hostel of recovering six dangerous fire arms.
According to the report, police yesterday were conducting an operation at the KwaMashu hostel and managed to arrest 12 suspects who are alleged to be implicated in various crimes.
This massive operation conducted by the police, was triggered by the recent spate of attacks targeting the ward-39 councillor, Sakhi Ngcamu. Ngcamu has escaped on two occasions when unknown assailants attacked and allegedly targeting him. Commenting on this important breakthrough, Mchunu commended the police and urged political parties to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
“I commend the good work by the police. This is a clear indication that our police are doing their work with dedication. The arrest of so many suspects and the recovery of so many fire arms is an indication that this hostel is notorious. All of us including political parties, we must work with the police and other law enforcement agencies to isolate all criminals in this area. We need to strengthen community structures and community intelligence inside the hostel for us to win the battle against criminals,” said Mchunu.
Yesterday Mchunu convened an urgent meeting with various political parties at KwaMashu to address what is seen as the resurgence of violence at the hostel.
The meeting was attended by the Inkatha Freedom Party, NFP, ANC, CPF, representatives from eThekwini Municipality and senior officials from the Department of Community Safety and Liaison.
The meeting noted reports suggesting that the recent attack of a Councillor Ngcamu does not suggest political intolerance however it is isolated acts of criminality.
The meeting resolved that the three-aside forum of local leadership of all political parties represented at the hostel must meet regularly to address issues of political tolerance and stability in the area.
The meeting recommended the additional capacity of police in KwaMashu including exploring a possibility of visible policing inside the hostel. The meeting further re-iterated that development in the hostel be expedited so as to root out a fertile environment for crime to thrive.
The MEC called upon each and every individual to be an intelligent officer because police alone cannot win the war against crime. Hence, the revival of structures at the hostel is critical and urgent for a collective approach to development and the fight against crime.
Through these interventions, MEC Mchunu is convinced that once again the situation at the hostel is going to normalise and there is no need to panic.
Media contact:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462 or 079 699 5755
