‘Dysfunctional’ Ipid slams researcher activist

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has contested claims by researcher and rights activist Vanessa Burger that its KwaZulu-Natal office is dysfunctional and that it had failed to investigate allegations of police misconduct and brutality at Glebelands Hostel in Umlazi.

She was giving evidence at the Moerane inquiry into the underlying causes of political killings in the province.

Burger testified that the hostel is home to hitmen hired to conduct political assassinations, and charged that Ipid had failed to prosecute any of the officers accused of torturing residents.

She said that 89 killings since March 2014 can be traced back to hitmen based at the hostel and that a hitman based there had been behind the recent killings in Umzimkhulu.

Violence monitor Mary de Haas said most killings in the province are linked to factions and power struggles in the ANC.

Among those to give testimony this week were Glebelands residents, witnesses to political killings, academics, political analysts, a traditional leader and S’bu Zikode, leader of the shack-dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo.

Ipid released a statement refuting Burger’s allegations. “It would be helpful if Burger would actually substantiate her allegations instead of just making unfounded statements against those who are working to resolve the problems at Glebelands.”

Burger responded that Ipid was skirting the real issue. “As you no doubt must be aware, the allegations you have levelled against me are so easily discredited that your statement can only be construed as an attempt to deflect attention from your institution’s spectacular and consistent failure to uphold its constitutional mandate and fulfil its legislated functions — that is, its overwhelming dysfunction,” she said. —