Public protector Thuli Madonsela believes tribalism was behind the killing of more than 100 people in the infamous Glebelands hostel in Umlazi, Durban.
"It appears that the killings had an element of tribalism where residents said people were often targeted based on the province they come from.
"Residents also told us that hitmen are also using the situation to get easy money by scaring people that they are on the hit lists and that they were offering their services to protect them," she said.
Last week, Madonsela visited various groups in the hostel to find out the factors that led to the mowing down of more than 140 people since violence flared in March 2014.
The furore which became a full scale war was allegedly triggered by the fight over bed space at the hostel.
The hostel is allegedly controlled by warlords who determine who stays in the hostel.
They are accused of recruiting hitmen from the rural parts of the province, promising them easy money and free bed space while using them to eliminate their competitors.
The hostel provides affordable living space and an easy gateway to the Durban CBD for many workers, mainly security guards.
Later a hit list was discovered that targeted whistle-blowers in the alleged corruption of awarding of living space at the hostel.
This led to residents fleeing the hostel fearing for their lives.
Madonsela said her visit was to find out what steps had been taken by the provincial government to protect the residents.
"In our meeting with the residents we gathered that, due to the dispatching of the national intervention unit, somehow the killing has subsided.
"They, however, expressed concerns that they still live in fear that disaster might strike again," said Madonsela.
The media was barred from the venues of the meetings, with safety concerns for those involved in the probe cited as the reason.
Madonsela said the provincial government did not do enough to ensure that the hostel dwellers were safe.
She said part of her investigation would be to examine the role played by both the provincial government and that of the human settlements department in protecting citizens.
Madonsela is expected to release her report in May this year.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
Tribalism fanned hostel killings
Public protector Thuli Madonsela believes tribalism was behind the killing of more than 100 people in the infamous Glebelands hostel in Umlazi, Durban.
"It appears that the killings had an element of tribalism where residents said people were often targeted based on the province they come from.
"Residents also told us that hitmen are also using the situation to get easy money by scaring people that they are on the hit lists and that they were offering their services to protect them," she said.
Last week, Madonsela visited various groups in the hostel to find out the factors that led to the mowing down of more than 140 people since violence flared in March 2014.
The furore which became a full scale war was allegedly triggered by the fight over bed space at the hostel.
The hostel is allegedly controlled by warlords who determine who stays in the hostel.
They are accused of recruiting hitmen from the rural parts of the province, promising them easy money and free bed space while using them to eliminate their competitors.
The hostel provides affordable living space and an easy gateway to the Durban CBD for many workers, mainly security guards.
Later a hit list was discovered that targeted whistle-blowers in the alleged corruption of awarding of living space at the hostel.
This led to residents fleeing the hostel fearing for their lives.
Madonsela said her visit was to find out what steps had been taken by the provincial government to protect the residents.
"In our meeting with the residents we gathered that, due to the dispatching of the national intervention unit, somehow the killing has subsided.
"They, however, expressed concerns that they still live in fear that disaster might strike again," said Madonsela.
The media was barred from the venues of the meetings, with safety concerns for those involved in the probe cited as the reason.
Madonsela said the provincial government did not do enough to ensure that the hostel dwellers were safe.
She said part of her investigation would be to examine the role played by both the provincial government and that of the human settlements department in protecting citizens.
Madonsela is expected to release her report in May this year.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
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