Third Zimbabwean Dies After Xenophobic Attacks in Addo

A third Zimbabwean dies from injuries sustained in xenophobic attacks in Addo. Apology Mandiudza was attacked on May 25 during a violent backlash following a murder of a local. No arrests have been made in connection with the incidents. The repatriation of the deceased remains a financial challenge for the community.

A third Zimbabwean man has died following violent xenophobic attacks in Addo. Apology Mandiudza, a 24-year-old, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital last Tuesday, approximately nine days after being assaulted by a mob in Valencia. His death marks the fourth immigrant fatality connected to these revenge attacks which began on May 25, incited by the murder of Jaune September, a local resident aged 22.

Currently, the identities of the other three victims remain largely unknown. However, sources reveal that two were Zimbabweans while one hailed from Malawi. As of now, no arrests have been made regarding the murder of September or for those involved in the mob attacks.

Mandiudza was originally from Zimbabwe and had his first job at a citrus farm. He was in a long-term relationship with a South African woman, who his niece Pauline Mhlolo indicated was poised for marriage. Describing him as quiet and gentle, Mhlolo detailed how, despite not being close to the tavern where September was killed, Mandiudza was brutally assaulted, suffering severe head injuries. In a tragic twist, his home was also robbed in the chaos.

“I saw him lying helplessly in his bed at Livingstone Hospital. He was not responding to our voices,” Mhlolo recalled painfully. During these distressing attacks, numerous immigrant men endured beatings that resulted in hospitalizations while countless women and children were forced from their homes.

To escape the violence, many displaced families found refuge at the local Addo Police Station and a church hall in Gqeberha. Following the violence, immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs conducted inspections at these shelters. This resulted in hundreds of arrests, with 127 individuals choosing to voluntarily leave the country.

September’s funeral on Saturday was attended by a large crowd and was described as peaceful. Ward councillor Xolani Jonas encouraged the immigrant community to return to their homes amid the ongoing turmoil. Meanwhile, Chris Mapingure, chairman of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, highlighted the difficulties in repatriating the bodies of the three slain Zimbabweans. The cost to transport just one body to Zimbabwe is around R32,000, burdening the community further. Mapingure has been working tirelessly to gather funds from Zimbabwean communities throughout the Eastern Cape, stating, “We still have a long way to go.”

In summary, the death of Apology Mandiudza has brought attention back to the rising issue of xenophobic violence in South Africa. The lack of arrests in connection with these brutal attacks raises serious concerns about safety and justice for immigrant communities. Efforts to repatriate the deceased migrants face financial hurdles, further complicating an already grave situation.

Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com