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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner, Khombinkhosi Jula, (view here) calling on him to urgently probe the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of Mthwalume women’s march co-ordinator, Hlengiwe Gasa.

The DA has also called on the Commissioner to urgently consider expunging all charges against Ms Gasa.

On 25 July, a group of about 100 women from the Mthwalume area marched to show their frustration over the high level of crime against women in the community.

The purpose of the march was to deliver a memorandum to SAPS, calling on them to act as women in the community were being raped and murdered. This amid concerns that it could be the work of a serial killer.

SAPS addressed the women at the onset of the march and received the memorandum. One of the SAPS officers also asked Ms Gasa to attend a meeting on 28 July to discuss the contents of the memorandum.

The gestures were regarded by the women as an indication that they had the full support of the SAPS. However, when Ms Gasa arrived at the so-called meeting, a case was opened against her for allegedly having contravened the Disaster Management Act. She was then detained (view here) and appeared in court on the same day.

The DA is deeply disturbed by what Ms Gasa has told us. Not only does it appear that she was arrested under trumped up circumstances, it also seems that she was lured to the Hibberdene SAPS – a modus operandi commonly used by criminals and certainly not one that SAPS should be using.

To date, five decomposed female bodies have already been found in the Mthwalume area, prompting Police Minister Bheki Cele to visit the area twice. This as the community also experiences high levels of sexual harassment against women.

Yet, rather than working with the community in apprehending perpetrators, it seems that the local SAPS at Hibberdene are arresting the very women who are fighting for survival.

The DA regards this as unacceptable. It is for this very reason that we have today written to Commissioner Jula. We sincerely hope that he will give the matter the serious consideration it deserves and that he will move to clear all charges against Ms Gasa. This is the right thing to do.

Issued by The DA