South African Government Intervenes in Westbury Unrest to Bring Calm

South African Police Minister Bheki Cele has tasked Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole with investigating alleged corruption and misconduct at the Sophiatown Police Station, which services the violence ridden Johannesburg suburb of Westbury.

Residents in the area, not far from Auckland Park, have described the last few days as being “scary” and like a “war zone”. Teams of police have been on the scene trying to keep the peace since protests – against escalating levels of gangster wars and drug peddling – erupted on Thursday.

Angry residents have taken to the streets, blockading roads, burning tyres and littering. The protests were sparked after a woman was killed, and a girl injured, after being caught in crossfire between three men on Thursday. Two of the suspects have subsequently been arrested.

On Monday, GroundUp reported that at least 15 people were injured when police fired rubber bullets, after residents had allegedly thrown petrol bombs at them. “Police officers were seen shooting into people’s homes as the residents ran for cover. GroundUp saw at least 15 people with rubber bullet wounds, some of them in the face,” wrote Zoe Postman.

Postman reports: “Westbury resident Dominic Louw told GroundUp that shootings in the area were usually between drug dealers fighting for their territories. He said residents had decided to protest again on Monday because another man had been shot in the early hours of Monday morning in spite of police presence in the area.”

“We are here today to claim our Westbury back and make sure this never happens again,” Louw told GroundUp.

Cele’s announcement today, Tuesday, was one of several interventions he promised while speaking at a local sports ground.

Cele was accompanied by Sitole, Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, Member of Parliament Vincent Smith and City of Joburg Community Safety MMC Michael Sun, among others.

The investigation into alleged police misconduct will be completed in seven days.

“The National Commissioner will as from today institute an investigation into the behaviour of the station. The results of the probe will be released in a week,” Cele said.

The probe will establish if, as alleged, police were involved in corrupt activities.

“Sometimes they are [allegedly] in cohorts with the drug lords [and the] issue of station management at times were not cooperating with the community. Police will investigate those accused of being corrupt. We’ll work with you so we can immediately act,” he said.

He conceded that the community had every right to voice concerns. However, he warned that this did not mean they had to be violent while doing so.

“The right they do not have is to be violent as they do that. To say we’ve waited for the community to rise before coming here is not true,” he said.

During the engagement, the community requested that the police deploy a Tactical Response Team Unit. The police have obliged to the plea, Cele announced to loud cheers.

“That unit will be here from today. They join a team of 20 already in the area to patrol the streets.”

In 24 hours, Cele said, another police unit working on drug trade allegations would be announced.

Regarding impassioned pleas for the release of community members arrested during the violent clashes with police, Cele said the matter was beyond the control of the police.

Cele said he and other relevant departments would be back in the area next week to deal with all matters raised. – SAnews.gov.za

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