With yet another gruesome discovery of dismembered human body parts found on the side of the road by a pedestrian in Amaoti on Tuesday, 8 October, the DA in KwaZulu-Natal called for the establishment of well-equipped neighbourhood watches and Community Police Forums (CPF) in high crime areas.
In light of these gruesome findings MPL and DA KZN Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison, Riona Gokool called on KZN Premier, Thami Ntuli – under whose office the province’s Department of Community Safety falls – to fast-track the establishment of well-equipped CPF’s and neighbourhood watches within the province’s crime hot spot zones.
Gokool said: “The DA acknowledges the hard work being done by law enforcement, including SAPS, in our province. According to reports, the reasons for the heinous crimes remain unclear, and the DA urges the authorities to fast-track their investigations to ensure the successful apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators.”
She added that in order for this to happen, communities and residents need to work hand-in-hand with SAPS and other law enforcement. They are the eyes and ears on the ground and can make a vast difference when it comes to making their own environments safer, “In the event that it is found that the crimes are ‘muti’ related, SAPS must ensure swift prosecution. It must further be ensured that all practicing sangomas in KZN have the necessary certification in line with legislation”
Gokool said that the DA believes that investing in communities through the establishment of well-equipped and functioning CPF’s and other crime-fighting initiatives, government can promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure a safer KZN for all.
She said: “KZN’s people deserve to go about their lives without constantly looking over their shoulders. The DA urges Premier Ntuli to do everything in his power to ensure this.”
This follows another incident where a dismembered head and legs were found in a pile of rubbish on Friday, 4 October. A man searching through a rubbish dump made found a dismembered head and feet in a black refuse bag. RUSA was contacted for assistance and on arrival searched the area finding another plastic bag containing legs dismembered from the knee to the pelvis.
Head of Reaction Unit South Africa, Prem Balram, said, “On Tuesday, 8 October Reaction officers responded to the call for assistance and on arrival located a human torso with the arms still attached on a grass verge next to the main road. The road has a high vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It was partially covered with a cream blanket and pink bed sheet. The remains were in a state of decomposition. A closer examination revealed that the spine had been removed from the torso.”
“It could not be confirmed if the human remains were linked to the head and legs that were discovered in a pile of rubbish in Amaoti on Friday, 4 October,” Balram added.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, added: “Police in Inanda have recovered human body parts on Tuesday morning, 8 October at Amaoti in the Lusaka area. The body parts were covered in a blanket and left on the side of the road. The matter is under investigation.”
According to police, suspects are unknown at this stage.
