News / Africa
Malawian national killed in South Africa, racism blamed and not xenophobia
15 Jun 2011 at 07:06hrs | Views
THE Malawian national killed in an alleged racist attack at Hartbeespoort Dam, North West, was a peace-loving person respected by all who knew him in the area
Mkwinda Makanjira, 51, was bludgeoned to death with a pole on Sunday evening, allegedly by a racist white man.
Makanjira was waiting at a farm store in Phelindaba Road where he was supposed to be picked up by fellow congregants on their way to a prayer service. Two men are expected to appear in the Hartbeespoort Dam magistrate's court today on a murder charge.
Meanwhile, police are continuing their search for another suspect.
Local businesspeople, including the owners of Sundance Village Pub in Broederstroom where the suspects were last seen before the gruesome murder, described Makanjira as a "peace-loving, helpful and respectful person".
An elderly white businesswoman told Sowetan that "my family has known him for seven years and he helped us a lot. He was not an aggressive person".
Witnesses told Sowetan that the three suspects "had brought their own drinks and made a lot of noise in our parking area. At one stage the alleged attacker was punching a tree very hard. He also threatened to kill someone. I am still shocked that he actually carried it out".
A passing motorist, Matome Mekgwa, 40, said the attacker behaved like "a man possessed".
"He held a pick handle-like pole with both hands and repeatedly hit the victim as he lay on the ground. He tried in vain to block the pole with the Bible in his hand," he said.
"I tried to scare the aggressor away by hooting and moving the car closer. I alighted, thinking he would stop the vicious attack, instead he threatened me. Finally he fled and I chased him but he disappeared into nearby thick bushes."
Mekgwa returned to the man and found his cellphone ringing.
"It was a female voice from one of the congregants he was apparently waiting for," said Mekgwa.
A woman who was hitch-hiking less than 20metres from where Makanjira was attacked said she saw the three loud-speaking men walking in her direction.
"The noisiest one grabbed a pole and crossed the road not far from where I was waiting for a lift. He was hitting at something. It was after he had fled that I realised he was beating a person. I did not hear him scream or fight back," she said.
Makanjira's nephews - Issa Saidi, 25, and Amini Rajab, 26 - described him as a "true family man". He was buried on Monday as per Muslim custom. His family is in Malawi.
Mkwinda Makanjira, 51, was bludgeoned to death with a pole on Sunday evening, allegedly by a racist white man.
Makanjira was waiting at a farm store in Phelindaba Road where he was supposed to be picked up by fellow congregants on their way to a prayer service. Two men are expected to appear in the Hartbeespoort Dam magistrate's court today on a murder charge.
Meanwhile, police are continuing their search for another suspect.
Local businesspeople, including the owners of Sundance Village Pub in Broederstroom where the suspects were last seen before the gruesome murder, described Makanjira as a "peace-loving, helpful and respectful person".
An elderly white businesswoman told Sowetan that "my family has known him for seven years and he helped us a lot. He was not an aggressive person".
Witnesses told Sowetan that the three suspects "had brought their own drinks and made a lot of noise in our parking area. At one stage the alleged attacker was punching a tree very hard. He also threatened to kill someone. I am still shocked that he actually carried it out".
A passing motorist, Matome Mekgwa, 40, said the attacker behaved like "a man possessed".
"He held a pick handle-like pole with both hands and repeatedly hit the victim as he lay on the ground. He tried in vain to block the pole with the Bible in his hand," he said.
"I tried to scare the aggressor away by hooting and moving the car closer. I alighted, thinking he would stop the vicious attack, instead he threatened me. Finally he fled and I chased him but he disappeared into nearby thick bushes."
Mekgwa returned to the man and found his cellphone ringing.
"It was a female voice from one of the congregants he was apparently waiting for," said Mekgwa.
A woman who was hitch-hiking less than 20metres from where Makanjira was attacked said she saw the three loud-speaking men walking in her direction.
"The noisiest one grabbed a pole and crossed the road not far from where I was waiting for a lift. He was hitting at something. It was after he had fled that I realised he was beating a person. I did not hear him scream or fight back," she said.
Makanjira's nephews - Issa Saidi, 25, and Amini Rajab, 26 - described him as a "true family man". He was buried on Monday as per Muslim custom. His family is in Malawi.
Source - Sowetan
