Xenophobic attacks erupt, Zimbabwean left nursing severe head injuries

A ZIMBABWEAN was left nursing severe head injuries while several others had to flee their homes and tuck-shops following renewed xenophobic attacks by a mob of South Africans in Thohoyandou in Limpopo Province.

The attacks, which started on Tuesday last week, left the unidentified Zimbabwean badly injured while several others lost property worth thousands of dollars during the skirmishes.

Survivors narrated horrific tales of fleeing in terror from mobs baying for their blood.

A handful of street vendors ignited the attacks.

They marched through the streets carrying placards denouncing Zimbabweans resident in the town and accusing them of fuelling crime in the area.

According to witnesses, some of the placards read: "We're tired of Zimbabwean criminals and they must be flushed out of our community now."

"I was selling my wares at the main market stall when a group of South African vendors marched through the streets carrying placards denouncing Zimbabweans. They were later joined by some local residents and they subsequently descended on homes and tuck-shops belonging to Zimbabweans and started attacking them. They beat up anyone they suspected to be a Zimbabwean on the street," said Nndanduleni Ndou, who witnessed the incident.

"The angry mob, mostly vendors, moved from one corner of the town to the other looking for Zimbabweans. They emptied dustbins and littered the streets and barricaded roads using stones, blocking traffic," she said.

One of the affected Zimbabweans, who declined to be named, said he had to run for dear life as the angry mob bayed for his blood.

"I saw them coming towards me and I had to take to my heels and luckily I managed to outpace them and hid behind a shopping mall. I could hear them shouting at me saying, 'we're tired of criminals from Zimbabwe. They must go back to their country," said the Zimbabwean.

A Nigerian national operating a shop in Thohoyandou's central business district was also reportedly caught in the cross-fire and his car tyres were deflated by the mob and police had to come to his rescue.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Constable Avhafarei Tshiovhe confirmed the incident to The Chronicle via telephone. She said a suspect believed to be the ring leader was arrested on Friday.

"An angry mob took to the streets and launched attacks on foreigners during which one Zimbabwean sustained head injuries and was taken to Thohoyandou Hospital for treatment. We managed to arrest a 26-year-old suspect who is now assisting us in our investigations and he will appear in court soon. The situation is under control and we're monitoring it," said Tshiovhe.

"We continue to urge people to desist from violence as the law will take its course" she said.

Of late Zimbabweans living in areas in Vhembe district in Limpopo province have been the subject of ridicule and blame for crime with locals taking it upon themselves to "weed out" foreigners blaming them for "fuelling" crime in the area.

In February last year, two Zimbabweans were brutally killed by a mob of South Africans at Tswinga village in Thohoyandou while three sustained serious injuries in suspected xenophobic attacks.

The two Zimbabweans were abducted from their homes and taken to a secluded spot where they were brutally assaulted.

One of the victims died instantly  while the other died at a hospital due  to the injuries sustained from the beatings.

Xenophobic motivated attacks continue to rear their ugly head in South Africa and Zimbabweans, especially in Limpopo and Gauteng provinces have been on the receiving end.

In Seshego Township, northwest of Polokwane, Godfrey Sibanda was trapped by a marauding mob and stoned to death in June 2011.

This attack led to Zimbabweans   in the area fleeing their homes due to fear.

In May 2008, 62 foreigners in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg were brutally killed and thousands displaced.

Their homes were also destroyed and looted during the attacks, which subsequently spread to other parts of the country.