A SPECIAL task team has been formed to investigate the brutal murder of two foreigners in Inchanga.
The two Ethiopians, Getechaw Paulos (32) and Deselegn Daniel (30), were shot and killed on Monday evening at their tuckshop, which had been in operation for just three months. Goods from the tuckshop and the businessmen’s car were stolen during the crime.
The Inchanga community was left shocked and terrified, as they said the two businessmen were friendly and had good hearts.
EThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo, has condemned these brutal murders. Nxumalo, who went to the scene on Wednesday, said they are very concerned about the situation.
“Just last week we were in the INK area (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) and Newlands where we met with the local business forums of these areas to discuss the tensions that exist between local business people and foreign nationals.”
Nxumalo said he believes that criminals are now exploiting local business concerns for their selfish interests. “I do not think this is related to xenophobia. This is the work of criminals who are opportunists.”
He said interventions in the INK area had been effective in curbing the escalation of these kinds of attacks.
“We have spoken to local business people, particularly in the INK area, and we understand their concerns. As part of the solution we have tasked relevant municipal departments to develop a policy or by-laws that would regulate the opening of businesses in townships.
“At the moment we do not have any policy that guides us on how to regulate trade by foreign nationals,” he said.
“We will also be engaging with the forum of foreign nationals and local people who are renting out their properties so that we can come up with an inclusive solution. We call on our people to be tolerant and not engage in acts of violence that are against the law,” said Nxumalo.
Head of Detectives, Lt Vusi Mbuyisa, said a task team has been formed to investigate the murders
Nxumalo has called for swift action from the police, and urged anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of these criminals to come forward and talk to the police.
These latest murders bring the number of foreigners who were killed in the Highway area to three in the last few weeks. A 36-year-old Ethiopian man was murdered on Wednesday, 28 January, also in his tuckshop, by unknown men who stole money and cigarettes.
