By Nathi Olifant and Simphiwe Ndwandwe
The ANC in the eThekwini region on Wednesday rejected reports that violence at Umlazi's Glebelands Hostel which recently claimed one life was politically related, saying they were acts of criminality.
The party's regional working committee also denied claims that violent protests in Lamontville over the provision of new houses had underlying tribal and ethnic connotations.
The committee said it had received reports that Glebelands residents were being attacked by people wanting to occupy the hostel illegally.
The Congress of the People complained that its members at the hostel were being targeted and slammed the police for not intervening. The ANC disputed this but condemned the killings.
"Those behind these acts of criminality are involved in the illegal allocation of hostel units. To link these acts of violence to politics is mischievous. We are, however, deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks and have decided to treat the matter of the fraudulent occupation of these units with urgency," said ANC eThekwini region chairman John Mchunu.
He believed that more than 40 people had been killed at Glebeland since 2004. He called on the municipality to investigate the allocation of hostel units so that those illegally occupying them could be dealt with.
According to Nigel Gumede, chairman of the eThekwini housing committee, an audit would be conducted to determine the number of occupants at all eThekwini hostels, but the municipality would start with Glebelands because it was the pilot project.
Gumede also said they had met a group of individuals concerned over the allocation of housing at Lamontville, but that poor communication had resulted in "erratic behaviour".
"The houses are provided to those in need and those who have followed the required process, regardless of their race and ethnicity," said Mchunu.