The IFP in the KZN Legislature says the call for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the killing of Amakhosi is long overdue.
While we support the call for the establishment of a such a Commission, the IFP has long been calling on government to stand up and protect Amakhosi by establishing such a commission. Sadly, our calls have fallen on deaf ears. Further, a drawback of such commissions is that while public funds are spent, the investigations often do not yield positive results, which reduces them to a futile exercise.
There are multiple cases involving the murder of Amakhosi which have been waiting for years to be resolved. Prosecutors sometimes are seen to be afraid of pursuing such cases, as they fear for their lives, which results in these cases being left unresolved, and perpetrators not being held accountable.
If government is serious in their concern for the safety of Amakhosi, they must provide practical support, such as protection officers. Government cannot just use Amakhosi as election fodder but then fail to protect them.
The IFP calls upon the new Community Safety Intervention Unit (CSIU) – established by the KwaZulu-Natal government to deal with safety challenges experienced by traditional leaders – to be afforded the resources and manpower to crack down on the criminals that are taking the lives of Amakhosi. Further, the murder of Amakhosi is yet more proof of government’s dismal failure to eradicate crime. Criminals do not fear the Rule of Law, the police, or the judiciary.
Drastic measures are required, and there is no more time to waste, as lives are being lost.
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Contact
Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Community Safety and Liaison
078 290 5842