Arrest of cop hailed by Umlazi hostel residents

RESIDENTS of Glebelands Hostel in Durban have welcomed the arrest of a police officer linked to assassinations at the violence-riddled precinct.

At least 90 people have been killed in the last two years in violence linked to clashes at the hostel‚ with residents long having complained – including under oath at the Moerane Commission into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal – that police were involved.

The 37-year-old officer was among five men arrested in a raid by cops on Wednesday and yesterday.

The detective constable was taken into custody at the Durban Central police station where he works.

He cannot be identified until he appears in court‚ likely to be today.

Police spokesman Brigadier Jay Naicker said crime intelligence operatives had spent months gathering evidence. “Coordinated predawn raids were conducted in Harding and the hostel for wanted suspects‚” he said.

A man was arrested in Harding‚ while a second was arrested in Glebelands’ Block 51.

“A team also went to Block 42 where they arrested a 34-year-old suspect. During a search of his room‚ a police cap‚ two police reflector jackets‚ a state-issued laptop as well as a number of internal police correspondences were seized‚” Naicker said.

Also yesterday‚ a 28-year-old man – the fifth arrest – was taken into custody at the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court.

The man was previously arrested for a murder at the Glebelands Hostel and was granted bail yesterday.

However‚ he was arrested afterwards “as a warrant was issued on an attempted murder”‚ Naicker said.

One resident‚ who spoke on condition of anonymity‚ said the arrests were a step in the right direction.