Man killed in Garsfontein riot
The reports that two people were burnt during a clash between a group of Basothos and Zimbabwean nationals are speculative.
A man was killed following a riot between two groups in the east of Pretoria on Sunday afternoon.
Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said the riot happened at Plastic View in Garsfontein when a fight broke out between Basotho’s and Zimbabwean nationals.
“It is alleged that a group of Basotho people were attacked by Zimbabweans today (Sunday) while they were playing football,” she said.
“The Basothos retaliated and drove their attackers out of the camp,” said Weilbach.
One Lesotho citizen dead and six others injured after an attack in a Pretoria East informal settlement @JacaNews @eNCA @ewnupdates
— NETCARE 911 (@Netcare911_sa) May 22, 2016
Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said seven Basotho people suffered stab wounds and one man died.
“A man in his 20s had critical injuries while the other six sustained injuries varying from serious to minor. The critically injured man died soon after arriving at hospital,” said Botha.
The six injured people were treated at the scene and transported to hospital by provincial services, said Botha.
Weilbach said police were monitoring the situation while the leaders of both groups were negotiating possible solutions.
“The situation is contained at the moment and surrounding suburbs are safe. No arrests were made and Garsfontein police will investigate cases of murder and public violence,” said Weilbach.
Earlier reports indicated that two people were burnt during the clash, but the Directorate of Specialised Security’s spokesperson Brandon Morgan said the initial information received was speculative.
He confirmed one person died.
Botha said reports from people at the squatter camp indicated that four other people were also killed, but hostile community members, armed with sticks and pangas, refused the emergency services access to the camp to verify this.
Weilbach could also not confirm the killings of the other four people.
Also read:
Breaking News: Two burnt in the east
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