Foreign national dies in Mandela Section violence

Residents blame illegal miners for violence.

February 5, 2015

Sifiso Mathebula 2 minutes read

Col Maria Sibanyoni (eMbalenhle Police Station Commander) talks with residents.

eMBALENHLE – Things are back to normal at the Mandela Section after a whole week of bloodshed, mob justice and violence in the area.

It is alleged that the violence began when Basothos beat and stabbed one of the residents.

Residents got angry and mobilised themselves to attack and drive the Basothos out of the area.

The police intervened and called an urgent meeting with the residents to resolve the matter on Tuesday 27, January.

However, residents continued to attack the Basothos even after they were reprimanded by the police.

It is alleged that on Wednesday the Basothos organised their home boys from Caltonville and other towns to fight back.

The situation got more violent and tense as a Basotho was allegedly beaten to death and four others sustained severe injuries after they were beaten and assaulted on 28 January.

The injured were taken to the Evander Hospital.

Shacks and RDP houses were burnt that night.

Capt Magonseni Nkosi, police spokesman, condemned the violence and mob justice committed by the residents.

“This is totally unacceptable and families are losing their property and loved ones.

“We urge the fighting groups to stop this violence and if they suspect that a particular group in the community is causing ructions, they must report the matter to the police.

“They must not take the law into own their own hands.

“We have intensified patrols and deployed more officials to monitor the situation and are glad that things are getting back to normal.”

Residents blamed the police for late intervention and said if the police responded earlier, no one would have died.

A resident blamed the violence on the illegal miners.

She said a Bosothos rival group had a squabble while they were involved in illegal mining.

“This was not a fight between residents and the Basothos, but the Basothos were fighting one another.

“It was unfortunate that the other rival group managed to persuade the residents to say that the other group was committing crime in the area.

“The illegal miners misled residents.”

She said the problems began with the increase in illegal miners who were mostly dressed in the Basotho traditional attire, and that the residents noticed that they were becoming a serious concern and threat to them.