A mob on Wednesday night killed Elvis Nyathi, a Zimbabwean national, just hours after Police Minister Bheki Cele and the police’s top brass visited the area.
Diepsloot’s community policing forum secretary, Kutlwano Moalosi, stated that they received information on Thursday morning that the man was killed in Extension 1.
“The community chased after him and caught him and burnt him apparently.”
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, said the mob went door to door at around 21:00 on Wednesday, and demanded passports from foreigners. When they entered one home, a man fled the scene, she said. They went after the man and killed him.
Cele on Wednesday told the media that seven people were murdered in the area over the weekend. The community threatened to shut down the township following the spate of mass protests triggered by killings.
Cele reassured the community that about 30 members of the Tactical Response Team and Public Order Policing would be deployed to the area.
“The new national commissioner will bring 10 police vehicles from tonight, and the province will bring six more. This means that in the next 24 hours, the station will have 16 new cars,” he said.
Meanwhile, Diepsloot community leaders spoke out against Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla Lux, saying they have their own representatives after he addressed crowds.
Community leader Andrew Malaka said, “Nhlanhla Lux is confusing the community because he’s coming from Soweto here to check what the community is doing.”