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1. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


THE ROLE OF THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE NATAL CONFLICT

  • The South African Police (SAP) and KwaZulu Police (ZP) have repeatedly joined with Inkatha in their attacks on UDF supporters. In these attacks, the SAP have transported Inkatha vigilantes in police vehicles; shot and killed unarmed residents, burned and looted homes, and used teargas and bullets to prevent residents from defending themselves against Inkatha assailants;

  • The SAP and kitskonstabels (or "instant" constables who are given a mere six weeks of training) have searched, harassed and threatened UDF-aligned residents and handed them over to members of Inkatha;

  • The SAP have refused requests for police intervention to disarm Inkatha groups and to prevent and halt Inkatha attacks;

  • The ZP have been particularly guilty of incidents of wild shooting and killing. Applicants for restraining orders against the ZP include officers of the SAP, who have been victims of indiscriminate attacks by the ZP;

  • The South African Defence Forces (SADF), although not as consistently implicated as the other forces, have harassed and physically abused UDF-aligned township residents and destroyed their property.


THE ROLE OF THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE TRANSVAAL TOWNSHIP VIOLENCE

  • The SAP have repeatedly transported and accompanied armed Inkatha members and vigilantes and stood idle during attacks;

  • The SAP have used teargas and bullets to disperse township residents attempting to defend themselves from Inkatha attacks;

  • The SAP have assaulted township residents and looted their homes when conducting weapons raids;

  • The SAP have refused requests by township residents to disperse Inkatha attackers;

  • The South African government has refused to respond adequately to evidence of security force involvement in the violence.


THE US ROLE

  • The US government has consistently refrained from raising publicly the issue of security force involvement in the violence in Natal and the Transvaal townships;

  • In its public statements on the issue of "black on black" violence in South Africa, the US has underemphasized the government's responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens.


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January 1991