Cops nab hostel murder suspect

POLICE have made a breakthrough in the killings at the notorious Glebelands Hostel near Durban after arresting a 31-year-old suspect.

Law enforcement agencies conducted an intelligence-driven operation at Glebelands in search of suspects.

“The team located and arrested a 31-year-old suspect who was wanted for the murder of Sbongile Mtshali,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane.

It had been alleged that on July 26 at about 8pm, Mtshali had been in her room, from where she was running a tuckshop, when two men approached her pretending to be customers, Zwane said.

The men allegedly shot and wounded Mtshali before fleeing. She suffered gunshot wounds to her head and chest and died at the scene.

“The arrested suspect will be profiled to establish if he is linked to other cases committed at Glebelands hostel,” Zwane said.

“He will appear in the uMlazi Magistrate’s Court once charged.”

Meanwhile, the murder of a 38-year-old man on Tuesday night has brought the total number of deaths at the sprawling hostel complex to 93 in recent years.

Earlier this month, Parliament’s portfolio committee on police visited the hostel as part of a weeklong tour of the province to assess the state of policing.

A woman had been shot and killed at the hostel the night before the visit by the committee.

During a briefing at uMlazi police station, the committee heard that there had been 12 murders at the complex so far this year, with a further 12 attempted murders and five acts of intimidation recorded by the police.

A 36-year-old man had been arrested at the hostel on Wednesday for possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Police were conducting crime prevention duties at the hostel as well as following-up on the Tuesday night murder when they stopped a taxi to search its occupants.

One of the passengers was found with an unlicensed pistol.

The gun will be subjected to a ballistics analysis to determine if it was used in any other crimes.

Major-General Bheki Langa, KwaZuluNatal’s acting provincial commissioner, has praised the police for the arrests.

“Community partnership is vital in maintaining peace and stability at the hostel. We are appealing to residents to work together with the police by reporting any criminal activities,” Langa said.

“We also applaud the uMlazi station commander for her continued attempts to reach out to residents at Glebelands Hostel.”