Eshowe Farms Burned by Community After Man Shot by Security Guard
The National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole has called upon the community of the Umlalazi, Eshowe and surrounding areas to be calm and tolerant following the killing of one of its community members. Yesterday, two young men, one of them being 30-year-old Spamandla Xulu, were fishing in a dam on the Gqobhokani farm. […]
The National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole has called upon the community of the Umlalazi, Eshowe and surrounding areas to be calm and tolerant following the killing of one of its community members.
Yesterday, two young men, one of them being 30-year-old Spamandla Xulu, were fishing in a dam on the Gqobhokani farm.
The men were confronted by a security guard and requested to leave… which resulted in an altercation that led to the guard allegedly fatally shooting Xulu, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The second man escaped uninjured.
Since the shooting of Xulu, the security guard has been arrested on a charge of murder and he is currently in police custody.
However, the community is alleged to have taken to the streets initially burnishing tyres on the R66 road followed by the burning of the farmer’s house at the Gqobhokani farm, his sugarcane plantation as well as at least two neighbouring plantations.
According to reports on social media, the community had been misled into initially believing that it was the farmer who shot Xulu. One facebook page reported: “News spread and the whole community rallied together and went bezerk… they started burning farms from East Service Station. Very worrying is that besides stoning passing motorists, reports are filtering in that shots are being fired at passing motorists”.
General Sitole said Thursday afternoon that “the man suspected of killing Mr Xulu has been arrested and members of the community should allow the law to take its course.
“I have tasked the Provincial Commissioner to also mobilize an investigative task team to investigate the burning of the farm house and farms and bring those responsible to book as such behaviour is criminal and unacceptable.”
So far members of the Public Order Police Unit, Tactical Response Team and members of the local police stations have been mobilized to stabilize and normalize the area.
“Destroying property is no solution to any problem but rather it is a crime which is punishable by law. Furthermore, It serves to neither help nor correct any situation”, said General Sitole.
The area is apparently still volatile and people are warned to be alert and avoid the area at all costs.
The R66 has reportedly been completely closed from Richard’s Bay on the Empangeni side.
Photos from social media:
