DURBAN - POLICE Minister Bheki Cele says the district police commissioner has been tasked to assemble a peace committee, made up of community representatives, who will work towards addressing racial tensions and crime challenges in Phoenix and KwaMashu, Bester, Bhambayi, Amaoti and Zwelisha, as part of a peace-restoring mission to rebuild broken community relations and bring about social cohesion.
Cele revealed this as a high-powered delegation of leaders converged on the violence-torn communities. Cele said at least 20 people were killed in the area, amidst the unrest last week.
Some of those who died were innocent people caught in the crossfire, said Phoenix community policing (CPF) chairperson Umesh Singh. Finance MEC Nomusa Dube, who hails from the area, visited the family of one such victim, a community activist.
A special 10-member team of detectives has also been set up to investigate the murders, said Cele, who added that the team was in addition to the deployment of 80 Public Order Police unit officers in the area.
“Residents have the right to defend themselves within the law, but if we hear that people are being racially profiled at roadblocks set up in the area, where people trying to access Phoenix, including police, are being intimidated, violated and beaten up, and their cars are searched and torched (sic) it is simply criminal and won’t be tolerated.
“Police will not negotiate with criminals. Those who commit these criminal acts will be found and dealt with, regardless of who they are and where they come from,” said Cele.
“The interaction with community members laid bare claims of racial tensions, vigilante acts, the role of some private security companies, as well as policing shortcomings being some of the elements fuelling the instability in the area,” he said.
“The team of investigators will also focus their work on the alleged involvement of local SAPS members and private security companies in the violence in the area,” Cele said.
By yesterday afternoon, the atmosphere was calm in the affected communities, said Singh.
“We are pleased that the barricades that were set up have been removed and the Metro Police have done a great job in cleaning up the area. We wish to send condolences to the bereaved families from both sides (Africans and Indians). We know that some of the people who lost their lives could have been innocent people who just happened to be in the area,” Singh said, adding that the inter-community committee would meet regularly to ensure lasting peace.
Dube-Ncube paid a visit to the bereaved family of Delani Khumalo, a community activist who was killed together with his niece, as he drove up the KwaMashu Highway separating Phoenix and KwaMashu.
“They drove on the highway during the day. That was his sin. He was not in anyone’s house or shop nor did he have any stolen goods in his car,” said DubeNcube, who had assisted Khumalo to set up a community businesses’ exhibition in KwaMashu. I was so happy with his latest achievements and even promised him that the next (exhibition) will be bigger and better. Now his life has been cut short. I am so heartbroken,” said Dube-Ncube.
IFP founder and president emeritus Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi called for mass prayers to be held through virtual platforms (due to Covid-19 restrictions) on a continuous basis until peace is restored.
“The prayers for peace and unity … must be heard day and night, until this battle is won. I have learnt through experience that, in all our diversity, we have only one destiny. We will swim or sink together. I admire those who have stepped outside their own culture to build bridges.
“People like Ishwar Ramlutchman, whose complete identification with the Zulu people is not only historic, but quite unique – to the extent that Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu adopted Mr Ramlutchman as his ‘son’,” said Buthelezi.
“I expect that there are some employers who may have a racist attitude, but it is very unfair to tar the whole Indian community with the same brush. There are black employers who treat their workers well. But even among them, there are those who treat their own people as though they were sub-human. Here again, it would be unfair to tar all blacks with the same brush because of the actions of some,” he said.
Ela Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter, called on authorities to track the instigators of the unrest and urged communities to not let anger lead to the loss of innocent lives.
“The state should focus on the perpetrators who have exploited the poor people, who are largely jobless and hungry, in the wake of the Covid-19 economic meltdown. In defending our communities, we should not be so angry as to kill innocent people, including women and children. We must remember that there are criminal elements, who have done things on ethnic and racial lines, and we should be vigilant in isolating these people,” said Gandhi.
IFP chief whip and KZN provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli, who addressed communities in KwaMashu hostel, Duffs Road and Isipingo yesterday, said the spirit of reconciliation had prevailed among the people.
THE MERCURY