eThekwini, police failed to protect Glebelands residents: Mkhwebane
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has found that eThekwini Municipality, the police and the Social Development Department failed in their responsibilities and duty to the residents of Glebelands Hostel in Umlazi.
Mkhwebane's released her report into killings and unlawful evictions at the Durban hostel.
The investigation followed a complaint laid by president of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association, Professor David McQuoid-Mason, who raised concern about "frequent and unabated killings at Glebelands".
McQuoid-Mason also brought attention to unlawful evictions hostel dwellers from their allocated rooms.
He argued the murders and displacements are in violation of residents' right to life, personal security and access to housing.
ALSO READ: eThekwini failed to provide services to the Glebelands Hostel community: Madonsela
In her investigation, Mkhwebane sought to determine whether eThekwini Municipality had administered Glebelands Hostel in accordance with the law.
"This relates to the South African Police Services. They failed to live up to the object to prevent combatant investigative crime, to maintain public order and protect and secure the residents of Glebelands Hostel and their property as well as to uphold and enforce the law as required by Section 205 of the Constitution. Therefore, their conduct is improper and amounts to maladminstration," she said.
She also found that the municipality did not give the hostel equitable access to municipal services. Mkhwebane further found that there was mal-administration by eThekwini as it had failed to conduct itself properly.
ALSO READ: Glebelands Peace Commitee's plea for security
Mkwebane also probed the security cluster's role in curbing crime at the notorious hostel.
She says there could have been better intervention by the South African Police Service.
"This relates to the South African Police Services. They failed to live up to the object to prevent combatant investigative crime, to maintain public order and protect and secure the residents of Glebelands Hostel and their property as well as to uphold and enforce the law as required by Section 205 of the Constitution. Therefore, their conduct is improper and amounts to maladminstration," she said.
Mkhwebane says the Department of Social Development failed to fulfill its responsibilities to the victims of violence at Glebelands.
Listen to the full bulletin below.