Community members of Mpheni village near Elim allegedly attacked Zimbabweans found at their village after accusing them of being responsible for the murder of a local resident. The man was killed after a drinking spree on Sunday, June 7.

The deceased was identified as Enos Tshamiswe (31). The Zimbabweans were also accused of ambushing another man known as Bethuel. He was chopped and injured on the head. According to sources, the residents of Mpheni have embarked on a campaign to attack any Zimbabwean found on the streets. As a result of this, six Zimbabweans were treated at the Elim Hospital after being brutally attacked by the angry residents.

The secretary of the Makhakhe Local Civic Association, Simon Gomodi, said early in January this year, a case of stock theft had beenopened against a Zimbabwean citizen at the Waterval police station. A Zimbabwean citizen was arrested shortly afterwards. He served three months in jail before returning to allegedly take revenge on the people who reported him to the police. His main reason was that he had lost his piece job. According to Gomodi, the Zimbabwean citizen ambushed and chopped Enos Tshamiswe. Tshamiswe died the following day at Elim hospital.

Community members reacted to this and confronted all Zimbabweans. In the process, eight of them were apprehended. “We gave all the Zimbabwean just four days to vacate Mpheni village, because they are giving us problems. Last Thursday, a mob apprehended a Zimbabwean citizen and he had to be rescued by the police,” Gomodi said. “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 ten o’clock at night we don´t want to see people walking in the streets,” said Gomodi.

Elim Hospital’s community liaison officer, Avhatakali Marole, confirmed that six injured foreigners had arrived at the hospital accompanied by police. “They were treated and discharged,” he said.

Police Superintendent Ronel Otto of the SAPS in Limpopo said the problems started in a tavern after a Zimbabwean citizen allegedly chopped up and killed a man with an axe a fortnight ago. The police have arrested two suspects and are still looking for the third one. “The community must not take the law into their hands, because if they do that, they will be arrested too. They must rather work hand in hand with the police,” said Otto.

Mr Joseph Tshamiswe, brother of the deceased, said that anyone who has any information about the death of his brother must report it to the police. He said those who did this evil deed to his brother must be brought to book.

Enos was buried on Sunday.