Mbalula pledges to stamp out IY violence

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula addresses the media at the Hout Bay police station on Sunday. Picture: JOHN HARVEY

National Police Minister Fikile Mbalula confirmed that a faction opposed to the superblocking process in Imizamo Yethu was behind last week’s violence which saw the homes of two community leaders torched.

“There is a rented mob here comprised of kids taking drugs. A faction is hiring criminals to torment society. The majority of community leaders and the community are in favour of superblocking,” Mr Mbalula said.

Mr Mbalula met with community leaders for three hours at the Hout Bay police station on Sunday night.

“There are people in Imizamo Yethu who are benefitting financially by renting out properties to foreign nationals. These things need to be addressed. We cannot allow an eruption of violence, so I have told the rebel group to go back and speak to the community.”

The minister said five people had been arrested for recent violence, adding further arrests were expected.

“What we have here are comrades attacking each other. But we will not allow lawlessness. Our duty is to maintain law and order.”
Asked about the autopsy results of Songezo Ndude, the Imizamo Yethu Movement leader who was killed in protests earlier this month, the minister said the finding was blunt force trauma, and this indicated he had not died as a result of a rubber bullet to the head.

“The police do not use blunt objects.”

He said the Human Settlements Department would also be engaged on the way forward in Imizamo Yethu.