Khayelitsha residents in row about inquiry

Imogen Vollenhoven

3 November 2012

 According to reports Khayelitsha residents said they want the commission of inquiry into alleged police inefficiency in their township to go ahead as planned.

The commission was appointed to investigate the break-down in relations between police officers and Khayelitsha residents.It was established by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille in August, following a spate of vigilante killings in the township.

But Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa wants the probe halted, saying the investigation must also focus on metro police.

The commission, headed by retired Constitutional Court judge Catherine O'Regan and Advocate Vusi Pikoli, is scheduled to begin hearing evidence later this month.

 

A resident who has been living in Khayelitsha for over a decade says wants the commission to go ahead with its duties.

 

The resident says that he doesn’t see a reason why Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa should stop the commission and feels as if the Police Minister is hiding something futher more the residents said that crime was a serious problem in the area.

They also said there were frequent incidents of rapes and stabbings and complained that police did not respond to alerts immediately.