Commission probing KZN political killings hears Zuma may be linked to violence

Community activist Vanessa Burger told the commission even President Jacob Zuma is involved through those supporting him in KZN.

DURBAN - The Moerane Commission investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal has heard how President Jacob Zuma may be linked to the violence.

The inquiry is probing the underlying cause of tensions in the province and why no arrests have been made despite 89 people being killed since March 2014.

On Monday, the Glebelands Hostel in Umlazi has been described as the place where politicians shop for hitmen.

Independent community activist Vanessa Burger has described the Glebelands Hostel as a place where police officers supply weapons to hitmen.

She says the assassins mostly take jobs from politicians and the taxi industry.

When asked to what extent the provincial killings are linked to national factions, Burger told the commission even President Zuma is involved through those supporting him in KZN.

She claims the hostel is an African National Congress stronghold and a party councillor needs to remain at Glebelands in order to channel money from the eThekwini Municipality.

A former resident is now making a submission, claiming that a policeman was involved with the hitmen and even supplied arms.

#MoeraneCommission The witness is a former Glebelands resident.He'd been there since 1989 but left in 2016 because his life was under threat — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 17, 2017

#MoeraneCommission Witness shares how there was a plan to kill him.Someone in intelligence told him not to take his bus near Megacity mall — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 17, 2017

#MoeraneCommission Witness says he was forced to leave the hostel because nothing was being done by councillors about violence in the area — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 17, 2017

#MoeraneCommission Witness asked "Are there many hitmen in Glebelands?" , his response "Yes". — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 17, 2017

#MoeraneCommission Witness:The municipality's poor management of hostel makes it difficult to know who stays there & easy for hitmen to hide — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 17, 2017

#MoeraneCommission Witness says he believes hitmen are affiliated to the ANC.ZN — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 17, 2017

(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)