Durban - The violence at the Glebelands hostel in uMlazi has its roots in politics, and a political solution is needed to curb it, says eThekwini municipal manager S’bu Sithole.
There have been 14 murders at the hostel since April 13 and many incidents of violence, with some residents and violence monitors blaming the bloodshed on factions in the ANC.
Apart from direct violence between the factions, a series of “mystery evictions” have heightened tension.
The Daily News reported last month that in a period of six months about 100 residents were evicted from their units, allegedly to make way for those willing to pay a R50-R100 monthly “bribe” to a group supporting one faction in the ANC in the area.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has not denied the internecine feud, saying that it wants to resolve the issue internally.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said he was aware of the situation and challenges at the hostel.
“We’re handling the matter internally as an organisation. We don’t want to point fingers, but we will communicate how we are handling the situation in due course.”
Sithole tried to explain the difficulty his municipality, as the administrator of the hostel, was facing in running it.
In an interview with the Daily News on Tuesday, Sithole at first said he did not want to comment on the matter as the council was waiting for a thorough briefing from structures and the hostel supervisor.
However, he said hostel issues were complex.
“We are looking at all the mechanisms we use to manage these establishments. We have challenges and we are sitting with a crisis on our lap.
“Fuelling the violence are broad political matters which require political intervention. Once that happens, then it will be easy for us to play our administrative role.”
Violence continued at the hostel this weekend, when at least one person, Themba Pika, suffered a stab wound to the stomach and his firearm was stolen - despite the heavy police presence.
On Sunday morning, the residents of Block 48 woke up to handwritten, threatening letters warning them to move out of their flats before the end of the day.
About 20 families were given an ultimatum; however, none of them have moved out.
On Sunday, Bongani Mthembu, chairman of the residents’ association uBunye Bamahostel Glebelands, said he received a call from a hostel dweller asking him to come to the block urgently.
“People had eviction letters shoved underneath their doors by unknown people overnight. I called an urgent meeting in the presence of police to get an understanding of on whose instruction the letters were delivered,” said Mthembu.
It is not yet known who ordered the evictions.
Last month, Mthembu was shot in the leg while trying to escape a shooting at the hostel.
At the time he said the violence was part of a continuing problem over rentals, dating from 2006.
“From April 13 to date, 14 people were killed in this place and if politicians do not find a solution, more people will be killed,” he said.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said a total of 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with these incidents.
In one of the most recent attacks two weeks ago, Thandiwe Ntombela, the ANC branch treasurer, was shot and wounded. Earlier, Sifiso Mngadi was shot and killed and his body was dumped on the Griffiths Mxenge Highway.
Residents, who asked to remain anonymous, alleged that the attacks were factional between ANC members - those who supported area councillor Robert Mzobe, and those who wanted him ousted.
Approached for comment on Thursday, Mzobe said he could not stop people from dragging him into the dispute.
He said as a councillor he was not involved in rentals or violence monitoring, but only “with service delivery”.
“Tell me about water issues and I will attend to those. Crime prevention is for police,” he said before he cut the call.
Violence monitor Mary de Haas said the violence was linked to the corrupt allocation of beds by one faction.
She said the police had failed to protect the innocent, who had been attacked under their watch.
“It is for this reason that we call for the removal of uMlazi police from Glebelands and to replace them with a unit of Public Order Policing to restore order in the complex.
“We also believe a task team of detectives from elsewhere should be brought in to deal with the number of cases registered with the police.”
Zwane said a suspect had handed himself to the police in connection with Sunday’s stabbing.
The suspect would appear in the uMlazi Magistrate’s Court soon.
Since April this year 18 unlicensed firearms and 208 live rounds of ammunition had been recovered during police raids in the hostel, Zwane said.
He added that a total of 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with these incidents.
IFP provincial leader Blessed Gwala said the Glebelands issue required intervention from various political parties.
“Because this involves ANC members, the party doesn’t want to involve other parties in finding a solution because of its political greed, but they want to intervene when problems are experienced by communities affiliated to other parties,” he said.
Daily News