Farm workers’ abuse investigated

NATIONAL Police Commissioner Bheki Cele has vowed to root out police officers who collude with farmers relating to the abuse of farm workers in Northern Zululand.
Cele and other high ranking officers met with police representatives of Pongola, Vryheid, Paul Pietersburg and Piet Retief in Pongola on Thursday, following allegations that police from these stations had been assisting farmers in the victimisation of farm workers.
It has also been alleged that numerous reported cases of abuse have either been covered up or not investigated by police.
‘We need to find out what has happened to these cases and where the problem lies?
‘Be it with police, prosecutors or magistrates, we will conduct a thorough investigation and bring the culprits to justice,’ said Cele.
‘You cannot negotiate about crimes being committed.’
He also condemned rising stock theft in the area which, it has been alleged, is due to police turning a blind eye.
‘Stock theft is a priority crime that must be urgently addressed,’ said Cele.
He also acknowledged that the high number of cases in the province that do not result in convictions were largely due to insufficient training of police.
To raise the standards, Cele announced retraining initiatives.