Port Edward police under pressure
The community wants the station closed and a commission of inquiry established.
ABOUT 300 KwaNzimakwe residents took to the streets of Port Edward last Saturday to demonstrate their opposition to alleged police brutality.
People from Ward 11 gathered at the Port Edward service station and marched to the Port Edward police station where a memorandum was handed to Cluster Commander, Brigadier Morris Moodley. The memorandum highlighted a number of grievances against several policemen.
The most recent incident to provoke outrage was the death of Mfanukhona Dlezi, who was found dead in a police van on January 3. It is thought that Mr Dlezi’s girlfriend had called the police after the couple had had a ‘misunderstanding’.
Co-ordinator of the march, Thulani Mchunu said in the memorandum that police claimed Mr Dlezi had hanged himself with a shoelace. “The community does not believe this. One of Mr Dlezi’s uncles said his nephew had a big hole in his head,” said Mr Mchunu.
The memorandum alleged that several people had been killed by the police. These included Sdi Shezi in 2006; Thokozani Shusha in 2006; Sbu Ngeleka, killed by a trainee officer in 2006 and Sabelo Lubanyana in 2012.
The community is also unhappy about a police officer known only as ‘Martin’ who apparently vandalises the homes he visits while searching for suspects. “Also, when one walks at night, they are taken to the police station and fingerprints are taken with no questions asked,” said Mr Mchunu.
Another interesting point put to Brigadier Moodley was that when police confiscate liquor being sold without a licence, they apparently sell the liquor to a bottle store in the Munster area. Another point of contention is that the chairman of the Port Edward CPF, who lives in the Thundeza area, is known to only employ temporary labourers from his area of residence.
The community is demanding that the Port Edward police station be closed and that a commission of inquiry be established. They say they are expecting answers within seven days.
Police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfeka said that the march was peaceful, adding that Brig Moodley will investigate the claims contained in the memorandum.
