Top cops probe Phoenix killings

31 detectives to investigate episode while private security firms would be held accountable, Cele says

FOLLOWING what is being referred to by some as the “Phoenix massacre” that left 36 people dead, the government is zooming in on the role allegedly played by four local security companies and how the local police station handled the matter.

The ongoing investigation to be carried out by a special team of 31 top detectives was announced by Police Minister Bheki Cele while addressing the media at the Inanda police station in the north of Durban yesterday.

Cele detailed how the killings happened and expressed shock that some of those who were killed were either shot or hacked to death and some were burnt.

In total, Cele said, so far 22 people were in custody and facing prosecution for their role in the killings. He added that 33 of those killed were from KwaMashu, Zwelisha, Amaoti, Inanda and Bhambayi, which are predominantly African townships around Phoenix.

Three were of Indian ancestry and the number could still rise as investigations were still going on.

The press conference was also jointly addressed by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, who said most of those killed were innocent people who were passing by Phoenix when the unrest started on July 12.

Cele vowed that all the private security companies would be held accountable and those who lost their loved ones should be assured that justice would be served.

“Detectives are investigating the role of private security firms in the violence. The response of the local SAPS to these events will also be looked into. Working closely with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, the team of investigators has seized (152) firearms from four private security companies working in the area,” Cele said.

“Some 112 illegal firearms have also been seized during police operations in Phoenix. The seizure of these firearms is within the ambit of the Firearms Controls Act and the firearms have been sent for ballistic analysis.”

Cele said he could not comment on allegations that four police officers from the Phoenix police station took all the illegal firearms confiscated during raids and distributed them to vigilante groups that staged illegal roadblocks “under the guise” of protecting their properties and businesses from looters.

“There are issues and questions raised … issues wrongly done by our own members. And we did say the investigation is continuing.

“Ipid (the Independent Police Investigative Directorate) is part of that, but police themselves are investigating some of these cases. So until we really find out what is the story there, we will not be able to comment.

“But rest assured that investigations are going on and those investigations the public will know what exactly happened … as soon as the result are found,” he said, when asked when are they going to suspend the police fingered in wrongdoing.

It has also been repeatedly alleged that some SAPS officers who are residents of the township used their state cars and firearms to kill people.

Meanwhile, Zikalala said KwaZulu-Natal, the epicentre and the flashpoint of the looting and violence, had suffered economic damage amounting to R2.1 billion and they have since asked the national government to help as the budget was too heavy to be carried by the province alone.

“These figures are not final and are expected to grow. We can confirm that with the work done so far, the situation is beyond the provincial and municipal capacity to deal with the cost of public riots and unrest as reported.

“We have therefore recommended to submit for classification to the National Disaster Management Centre in terms of Section 23(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act. The declaration of a provincial state of disaster will support the reprioritisation of budgets to implement the repairs and recovery programmes,” Zikalala said.