South Africa: Immigrant-Owned Shops Looted in St Francis Bay, Closed in Humansdorp
Violence said to be sparked by murder and mob justice
Immigrant-owned businesses have been ransacked and looted in St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, and the shopkeepers have fled.
This comes after a week of violence, apparently sparked by two murders and an assault.
First, Eyob Madamo, a 27-year-old immigrant from Ethiopia, was murdered in his shop in KwaNomzamo, Humansdorp, on 5 May.
A community member said on condition of anonymity, “When Madamo was murdered, the suspects went to rob another Ethiopian shop owner. Fortunately, they did not manage to overpower him. The shopkeeper informed his colleagues, who then called members of the [local] community.”
Working together, they hunted the suspect down and caught up with him on the Sunday.
