ETHEKWINI Mayor James Nxumalo has condemned the gruesome murder of two foreign nationals at Intshanga, West of Durban. The two Ethiopian nationals were killed on Monday evening after they were attacked in their tuck shop by a group of unknown people.
Speaking during a visit to the crime scene this morning Nxumalo said: “We are very concerned about this situation. Just last week we were at the INK area (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) and Newlands where we were meeting 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 the concerns of local business for their selfish interests. “I don’t think this is related to xenophobia. This is the work of criminals who are opportunists.”
Nxumalo said interventions in the INK area had been effective in curbing the escalation of these 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 bylaws 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.”
Meanwhile police said no one had been arrested for the murder of the Ethiopian nationals who were attacked in their tuck shop by a group of armed men who allegedly stole their goods and their vehicle.
Head of Detectives Lieutenant Vusi Mbuyisa said a task team has been formed to investigate the murders
Nxumalo has called for swift action from the police: “I am calling on anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of these criminals to come forward and talk to the police.”
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