MS SEROKE
Chairperson,  I'd like to read a summery of our research notes which will give us a idea of the  nature of the events that took place 1987 and 1988 - during the time Thabo Metsing  was shot by kitskonstabels.  
In February 1987 six "Green Flies" - that is municipal police - were recruited from Victoria West and began living in the Coloured township of Rustdene.  They patrolled KwaMandlekosi, which was the township in Beaufort West, day and night.
Some times they used a Administration Board van but mostly patrolled all together on foot.  They were armed with 9 mm hand guns and carried shot guns over the weekends.  They carried out the duties of the Administration Board such as issuing  Summonses for rent.
In May 1987 6 kitskonstabels returned from training in Koeberg, Cape and were joined in June by 4 more.  Apparently the kitskonstabels were told they were being trained as Security Guards before they were recruited and when some wanted to leave, they were told they would be jailed for 5 years if they left the Force.  
The kitskonstabels were recruited by the South African Police in a caravan, which came to the township offering a wage of R300-00 per month.  The people recruited were mostly unemployed, desperate men.  The highest standard of education passed by a member of this group, was Std 7. 
The kitskonstabels patrolled in groups of 2 or more and curried shotguns.  Captain Van Rensburg was in charge of the kitskonstabels and a policeman called Marks handled all complains against them.  
Marks was reportedly of an aggressive and threatening to people when they reported the bad conduct of one of his men.  Residents stated that little to nothing was done about their complains. 
 The residence of KwaMandlenkosi rejected the kitskonstabels because of their aggressive way they treated residence.  Residence  were badly beaten  by the kitskonstabels when drunk.   It was reported that  the kitskonstabels would go to the shebeen owners in  the township and  demanded drink.   
If they refused they were told they would be closed down,  so many obliged.  It was also reported that the kitskonstabels new the activists in the community and intimidated and threatened them regularly.  And during this period 5 people, including the witness standing before us, was shot in Beaufort West by the kitskonstabels.