DURBAN 250508: DISPLACED refugees in Durban told government officials yesterday that they wanted to go home. An attentive crowd listens to KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for social development, Meshack Radebe, at the Cato Manor police station. PICTURE: GCINA NDWALANE DURBAN 250508: DISPLACED refugees in Durban told government officials yesterday that they wanted to go home. An attentive crowd listens to KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for social development, Meshack Radebe, at the Cato Manor police station. PICTURE: GCINA NDWALANE
An internal investigation team appointed to probe the conduct of certain policemen from Durban’s organised crime unit based at Cato Manor who are accused of running a “death squad”, has produced a preliminary report.
However Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela on Tuesday, declined to divulge the provisional findings, saying they would only comment when the investigation was complete.
“The team is going to continue to work until the end of this month and then we shall assess the situation,” he said.
The investigation was set up by Hawks head General Anwa Dramat late last year following a newspaper report alleging the existence of a “death squad”. It was backed up by photographs of what the newspaper said appeared to be post-killing celebrations.
It is this conduct – and possible disciplinary action resulting from it – rather than the legality or otherwise of the killings, which is being investigated by the team under the leadership of Major General Jan Mabula.
At the same time, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) set up a separate task team to review all cases of police killings involving the unit. Four of those implicated were immediately transferred to the unit’s head office and while the Cato Manor office technically remains open, it has not been assigned any new cases since.
Attorney Carl van der Merwe confirmed that he was representing “about 12” members of the unit.
He said some of them had been asked by the ICD to attend interviews last week.
Because of the seriousness of the allegations they had requested the opportunity to engage an attorney.
“I have written to the ICD confirming that I represent them and have asked what they want from us. We have pledged our full co-operation and are waiting for a reply.”
The policemen had thus far not been asked any questions by anyone “as suspects”.
“I expect this will be a lengthy inquiry,” he said.
Polela said the Hawks investigation was separate from that of the ICD “although we are in constant communication”.
Meanwhile, ICD spokesman Moses Dlamini said the investigation was ongoing.
A source, who was not authorised to speak to the media, said it was possible all the relevant ICD dockets – even those which had already been closed after informal inquests – could be referred to the office of the director of public prosecutions for a decision on whether to prosecute. - The Mercury