League wants Alex station commander removed

ALEXANDRA - The African National Congress Youth League in Alexandra will this afternoon (4hr30) lead a March to the Alexandra police station from the home of the late Aphiwe Zweni who allegedly died last week at the hands of the police.

Picture of the late Aphiwe Zweni who the community alleges died last week from injuries sustained from a police beating.

UPDATE: 17 July 2014, 7pm – More than 500 people marched to the Alexander police station earlier today along with the ANC Youth League as well as the Women’s league.

This followed the alleged murder of Aphiwe Zweni by police officers from the station. The aim of the march was to hand over a memorandum which contained a list of demands from the station commander of the station.

The memorandum was handed over to the deputy station commander, Helen Tshabalalla who said that the station commander would respond to the demands in 2 days time.

The demands were:

The station commander was to return from leave and be moved from the station permanently, because the station commander has no communication with the community of Alexandra.
The members from the tech unit believed to be responsible for killing Zweni must be moved out of Alexandra. It was said that the unit is corrupt and allows drug dealers to roam the streets while the community live in fear of the police.It was also mentioned that the unit is a major threat to the community.
The CPF needs to be more active and become a stronger body and gain more independence.

The league stated that if they did not get a response in 2 days, they would escalate their concerns to a provincial level and if they get no joy from that, it will be taken to a national level. The marchers then dispersed peacefully.

Initial report: The African National Congress Youth League in Alexandra will this afternoon lead a march to the Alexandra Police Station from the home of the late Aphiwe Zweni who allegedly died last week at the hands of the police.

Confirming the march, branch chairperson Bruce Mahlaule said the march was to highlight the community’s anger at the senseless killing of an innocent person. It is alleged Aphiwe was killed by police who were looking for her boyfriend who was wanted for possession of firearms and stolen property.

Her killing has sparked fury in the community, with one of the deceased’s relatives saying they were extremely upset by the incident allegedly by people who are expected to protect them. The secretary of the Community Policing Forum Benjamin Chisale, said that the forum had also submitted a complaint to the cluster commander Major General Vincent Leshabane who informed them that departmental steps would be taken against those involved, and also that the Independent Police Investigative Directoratewas now involved. Chisale said it is expected that departmental steps could include suspensions or arrests.

Chisale also added that a memorial service for Zwane will be conducted tomorrow afternoon at Phutaditjaba Community Centre and it is expected that she will be laid to rest at her home in the Eastern Cape on a date still to be announced. He added that the forum and also the youth league had sent their condolences to the family and would assist in any way with her funeral.

Details: Bruce Mahlaule, ANCYL 074 851 2688.

Related articles:

Community vents anger at police over death of woman

Police watchdog agency investigates death of Alex woman

Cops allegedly beat woman to death

Residents protest death of woman

Picture of the late Aphiwe Zweni who the community alleges died last week from injuries sustained from a police beating.

A relative of the deceased Aphiwe Zweni addresses a crowd that gathered at her home on 16 Avenue in the presence of some media before some of them went to the Alexandra police station to protest over her death.