Venezuela: where a crisis and a “gold rush” are creating an environmental disaster
Under glass displays, nappies and coffee are sold as luxury items in the supermarkets of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Customers’ baskets are mostly empty. […]
Political violence
A false new dawn for Zimbabwe: what i got right, and wrong, about the mood
The afternoon after Zimbabwe’s historic Monday July 30 elections, I was trying to assuage the fears of Jason Burke, the correspondent for the London newspaper, […]
Glebelands hitmen get life sentences for taxi killing
Many believe the Glebelands violence is driven by corruption, particularly involving construction tenders and unit allocation. The vast majority of residents killed were targeted because they opposed the ward councilor’s alleged corruption and nepotism.
Afghan media’s “deadliest day” exposes the resolve, resilience and vulnerability its journalists
For a country that has endured decades of brutal war, foreign invasion and terrorist violence, the events of 30 April 2018 will go down in […]
The story of ‘Glebelands 7’ (PART 2): One step closer to justice
Late last year, seven of Glebelands most notorious ‘hitmen’ – including the hostel’s rogue cop – were arrested and charged with 19 counts of murder, attempted murder, racketeering, extortion and possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. Elitsha has been tracking the ‘Glebelands 7’ progress through the criminal justice system. This is Part 2.
Police ignore ANC links to taxi-related disappearance
Tshepo Hlambelo, a former Glebelands resident who claimed he was tortured by POP Unit members of the SAPS in 2014 after he was violently evicted from his hostel room by thugs and hitmen, eventually fled to his home in the rural areas near Bizana after he continued receiving death threats. He went missing on 14 Dec 2017.
One death as police disperse Mitchell’s Plain gathering
The conflict between the Siqalo and Mitchell’s Plain communities flared up late on Thursday, despite the suspension by Siqalo of their protest action. Police fired on a gathering of Mitchell’s Plain residents, killing one and wounding two.
Moerane Commission: Will the truth become a casualty of political expediency?
The Moerane Commission concluded its work on 18 March and has until the end of April to submit its report and recommendations to the Premier, Willies Mchunu. After that it will be tabled for discussion at provincial level, go back to the Commission for final amendments, and only after that, it might be made public. The Premier’s office initially stated that it would not release the report, then it stated that “no decision not to release the report has been made” following a public outcry.
Small-scale farmers should be at the centre of land reform in South Africa
Ben Cousins argues that the land redistribution should benefit small-scale farmers.
The anguish of refugees trapped in the Balkans
One of Feitas Moussa’s most treasured possessions is his incisor. The 29-year-old Libyan keeps the tooth in his pocket, carefully wrapped in a handkerchief. “They […]
City ‘satisfied’ with Secureco hitmen
Two Glebelands residents and employees of the politically connected private security company, Secureco METSU, contracted by the eThekwini Municipality to provide security at the hostel, have been implicated in at least 7 Glebelands murders and a further 3 attempted murders – Sivuyile Luna, whose trial for the murder of a Glebelands woman in Jan 2017, was remanded to February this year and Bongani Mbhele, for whom police recently issued a ‘wanted’ statement. Luna was a Block 52 resident while employed to undertake armed patrols at the hostel. Mbhele has been employed by Fidelity (Secureco’s holding company) since at least 2011, and although he did not perform guarding duties at the hostel, he is believed to have murdered at least 5 people by the time he was first arrested (and later released) in September 2015.
Police corruption continues unabated in Glebeland Hostel
The criminal justice system is quick to blame its abysmal conviction rate of Glebelands suspects on reluctant witnesses. While this is indeed a contributing factor – and for good reason – the whole story is not being told.
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