Cape civic groups call for probe to continue

KHAYELITSHA civil society organisations say though they agree with Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa that the metro police should be part of the commission of inquiry's probe into policing in the township, they are calling for the commission to continue with its work as a matter of urgency.

Earlier this week Mthethwa questioned Western Cape premier Helen Zille for excluding the metro police in the commission's probe, threatening to stop it by taking legal action.

Early this year the Treatment Action Campaign, Equal Education and other civil society organisations protested against unresolved court cases. There has also been at least 19 vigilante killings in Cape Town, mostly in Khayeli-tsha, this year.

Social Justice Coalition senior researcher Joel Bregman has warned that Minister Mthethwa's legal action could derail the process and would infringe the residents' right to human rights and justice.

"The commission is at an advanced stage and has already taken statements from certain people.

"There will be public hearings where residents will submit evidence at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha from November 12 to December 14.

"We also believe that the police cannot investigate the police," he said.

Nongovernmental organisation Equal Education spokeswoman Yoliswa Dwane said many people wanted the metro police to be part of the commission's investigation but Zille is said to have rejected this.

"However, we have recently written a letter to Zille, requesting that the commission continue with its work.

"We have also asked Minister Mthethwa about his plan to launch a police internal investigation but he has not responded," she said. Meanwhile Zille's spokesman, Zak Mbhele, denied that Mthethwa tried to convince Zille not to establish the commission. The commission is headed by retired Constitutional Court judge Kate O'Regan.