Police 'knew' about attack
2009-09-27 19:32
Durban - Two people died in an attack at the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Sunday.
"The victims were assaulted, beaten and stabbed," said Director Phindile Radebe, adding that eight people had been arrested for the murders.
She dismissed as "unlikely" an allegation that the police knew about the attack beforehand and stayed away o purpose.
The Abahlali baseMjondolo movement - which brings together shack dwellers in several provinces - was holding an all night youth camp at Kennedy Road when 40 "heavily armed" men entered the settlement on Saturday, it charged.
"... This was a carefully planned attack on the movement and... the police knew in advance that it had been planned and stayed away on purpose," said spokesperson Mzwakhe Mdlalose.
However, Radebe said that as soon as the police were alerted they mobilised units and went there, "and that's how eight people were arrested".
- SAPA
