Zimbabwean citizens staying in the Tshirowe village area were victims of what appears to be xenophobic attacks a fortnight ago. They were accused of being responsible for the crime in the area and told to leave the village.

Tensions flared up in the village two weeks ago and three Zimbabwean citizens were apprehended. “We gave all the Zimbabweans just a week to vacate Tshirolwe village, because they are giving us problems,” said a community member, Mr Judas Mutshekwa.

On Wednesday, 18 February, a mob apprehended a Zimbabwean citizen and he had to be rescued by the police.

“Community members are now angry and we are attacking each and every Zimbabwean we meet on the street because of their evil deeds. We don’t care whether they have married SA women or not, we are raiding them day and night. We have declared that after 10 o’clock at night we don’t want to see people walking in the streets,” said Mutshekwa.

Vhavenda King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana said that people participating in xenophobic attacks must stop immediately. “The recent wave of violence against foreign nationals that erupted in some Nzhelele areas left the area in chaos and such events should be condemned,” he said.

He added that the attacks went against the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution and stated that many foreign nationals were living in South Africa legally and that these people were meaningfully contributing to the country’s economic and social development. “In instances where foreign nationals are in the country illegally or are involved in criminal activities, we call on all citizens to provide this information to the police. No frustration or anger can justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops.”

The Mphephu police spokesperson, W/O Lazarus Netshidzati, said that they were investigating the incident. He confirmed that the police had opened a case of assault and that three Zimbabwean citizens had been attacked and later admitted to Siloam hospital.