MEC Kaunda calls for calm at Vosloorus Hostel
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda has called for calm among the KwaZulu-Natal hostel residents in Gauteng during the festive season and beyond.
The call follows the resurfacing of violent conflict that erupted between the people of uMsinga, Nquthu, Nongoma and Mahlabathini in KwaZulu-Natal who live in Vosloorus Hostel in Gauteng.
Since April this year, police are investigation 12 cases of murder and eight attempted murder at Vosloorus Hostel alone. MEC Kaunda’s visit to Gauteng is part of the festive season campaign to ensure that the people of KwaZulu-Natal, visitors and those who will be returning home during the holidays have a safe and peaceful festive season.
“Our aim is to call for calm among the warring factions and urge them to desist from revenge attacks. Working with the MEC for Community Safety and Liaison in Gauteng, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, we are going to ensure programmes to restore peace and stability in hostels are sustained,” said Kaunda.
All the murder cases in the hostel have been taken over by the Gauteng police task team and four people have been arrested. Both the Gauteng and KZN provincial governments have established a 10 aside committee made up of Izinduna from all affected groupings to facilitate peace.
During the visit to the hostel, Kaunda was accompanied by Amakhosi from the affected areas in KwaZulu-Natal and Prince Vanana Zulu who was representing the Zulu King. Kaunda thanked Amakhosi and Izinduna for their sterling work in stabilising the hostel after the violent attacks broke out.
In sustaining peace and stability, Kaunda urged the 10 aside committee and the hostel residents to work closely with the police to ensure that those who are behind the violent conflicts are brought to book. “Most importantly, we must work towards improving working relations between the hostel residents and the police to eradicate the scourge of crime in the hostel,” said Kaunda.
