‘Time to step up our game’: deputy president Mabuza laments racial tension in KZN

DEPUTY President David Mabuza has warned that the racial tensions in KwaZulu-Natal that saw a number of people killed were a blow to the country and efforts to reconcile its people.

He said it was not the time to point fingers, but to work to end racism and other forms of discrimination.

Mabuza, who was answering questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) yesterday, said efforts by

Police Minister Bheki Cele and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala to foster unity in the province were welcomed.

He said as the government, they must avoid finger pointing.

The government was investigating what happened in Phoenix, and a report would be able to determine the cause of the racial tension and killings.

He said all role-players must come forward to make submissions in the investigations conducted by the government and its entities.

This week, Cele told Parliament that 42 people have been arrested for the 36 murders in Phoenix.

He said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate was probing the role of the police in some of the killings.

This related to 74 deaths in KZN and 13 deaths in Gauteng.

Mabuza said they would investigate those behind the violence.

“We are going to investigate this correctly, what happened, who was behind this, who was behind the scene,” said Mabuza.

Mabuza told members of the NCOP that the government could have done better to prevent the violence and looting in KZN and Gauteng, where more than 200 malls, 1 400 ATMs and other businesses were damaged.

“As a country, we must accept that we could have done better as the security cluster in trying to avoid this kind of occurrence.

“That is why we have committed ourselves that we will step up our game, we will strengthen these institutions, law enforcement and our security structures so that we set ourselves some warnings, prior warnings before such incidents can occur.

“I think as the government, we should know,” said Mabuza.

He said they would clamp down on corruption in municipalities.

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke had been making adverse findings against some municipalities and there was no action.

Mabuza told the House they were ramping up efforts to vaccinate many people by the end of the year.