Zimbabwean couple shot in Alexander township NOT dead

There has been confusion as to the fate of a Zimbabwean couple that was shot at their home in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg.

In earlier reports, Business Day quoted Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as saying the said a Zimbabwean couple was allegedly killed on Monday night in Alexandra, coming after the killing of Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole on Saturday.

Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini of the South African Police Service has since clarified that the 33-year-old man and his 22-year-old girlfriend did not die by were both wounded in the upper body and have been admitted to Charlotte Maxeke hospital, Dlamini said.

Dlamini said the couple was shot with handguns.

He said police were not sure of the motive for the attack, but the suspects ran away after opening fire on the couple, without stealing any of their property.

The attack comes in the wake of the killing of a Zimbabwean woman, Mrs Naume Garusa, in one of the xenophobic attacks in the suburb.

Xenophobic violence that began in Durban three weeks ago, on Saturday claimed a victim in Alexandra, when Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole was beaten and stabbed to death in Second Avenue.

Zimbabwe has since repatriated some of its citizens, with more expected in the country soon.

The Business Day report