Cops, council slammed over hostel deaths

THE public protector has berated the SA Police Service and eThekwini metro police as well as the eThekwini municipality in Durban‚ KwaZuluNatal‚ for failing residents of Glebelands hostel in Umlazi‚ which led to a string of killings and unlawful evictions.

Busisiwe Mkhwebane has found that the police had failed in their duty to prevent‚ combat and investigate crime‚ maintain public order‚ uphold and enforce the law.

The complaint was lodged by the Commonwealth Legal Education Association‚ which complained of frequent killings and unlawful evictions in the hostel.

Since March 2014‚ 77 people have reportedly been killed at the hostel.

Releasing her findings in Pretoria yesterday, Mkhwebane said the SAPS had failed to uphold the constitutional rights of Glebelands hostel residents to be free from all forms of violence.

She said this conduct amounted to improper conduct and maladministration.

The public protector found that the eThekwini metro police also failed in its role to prevent crime at the hostel as required in terms of the SA Police Service Act‚ saying this constituted improper conduct in terms of the constitution and maladministration under the Public Protector Act.

Mkhwebane found that eThekwini municipality had failed to promote a safe and healthy environment for the residents.

She said the municipality had failed to give members of the local community equitable access to the municipal services to which they are entitled.