Watchdog denies it didn't act on hit squad killings

'Since none of the allegations has been confirmed through a credible investigation, a fact pointed out to the journalist, the statement by City Press that the IPID 'failed' is patently false,' spokesperson Moses Dlamini said, according to a report on the News24 site. 'The City Press has been fed a pack of unfounded allegations by a disgruntled employee...' Officers from Durban's Organised Crime Unit are standing trial for their alleged crimes and have been implicated in more than 50 murders. City Press says the IPID, formerly the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), was told four years ago about the unit's alleged crimes, and since then scores more people have been allegedly executed by its members. The paper says it has obtained a copy of a document submitted to the IPID in which lawyer Nathi Shozi pleads for an investigation to 'protect the lives and constitutional rights' of members of the KwaMaphumulo Taxi Association. 'We fear that the current trend of killing suspects is likely to continue unless decisive action is taken,' he wrote. The report says the complaint is stamped as 'received' by the IPID on 26 September 2008, shortly before another 10 suspects in various cases were killed, allegedly by members of the Cato Manor unit. Full report on the News24 site Full City Press report

Meanwhile, the group has considerable online support, according to a report in The Times. But the family and friends of the unit's victims, have called attempts by the Facebook group - Durban Organised Crime Unit KZN - to garner support and raises money towards the policemen's legal fees as 'pathetic and inhumane'. Last week, the group posted a photograph of some of the suspects under the words: 'These heroes need your support.' The same image has been printed on hundreds of T-shirts that are being sold throughout the country. Penny Katz, who created the Facebook group, before the 18 men were arrested and charged, said the international support was 'mind-blowing'. 'We have had people from New York and other parts of the world showing support. It's truly amazing,' she said. But a former neighbour of 16-year-old Kwazi Ndlovu, who was allegedly shot dead in his sleep by the police unit, was 'disgusted' by the support. Full report in The Times