Cape Town - A Malawian national has described how he had to break down his walls to call for help after a group of residents at KwaNokuthula in Plettenberg Bay allegedly torched his home on Tuesday night.
This follows reports that foreign nationals in the community feared for their lives and had taken refuge at a community hall following threats of violence by residents.
Residents have mobilised since Tuesday morning to disrupt and prevent foreign nationals from operating their businesses or going to work, according to the police, alleging that they deprive locals of the ability to obtain work.
Peter Mkonda from Malawi, who lives in KwaNokuthula, said he now lived in fear after his home was torched.
“It was around 10pm or 11pm, I was sleeping and woke up to a fire inside the house. I broke down another part of the house and ran out to call for help. We phoned the police and we have opened a case.
But what has happened has not left me with a good feeling. I do not feel safe now because of what happened,” he said.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said two cases of arson were being investigated.
“It is confirmed that the two houses allegedly belong to foreigners. No injuries were incurred, only damage to structures. Subsequently two cases of arson were opened for investigation. The situation is still volatile, but stable,” he said.
Pojie said Public Order Police were still deployed in the area to monitor and stabilise the situation.
Bitou Municipality mayor Dave Swart said calm and safety needed to be brought to the area to prevent further unrest and violence.
“At a meeting it was concluded that a member of the SA Human Rights Commission will address the community to resolve the current issues. For today, it was agreed that calm and safety need to be brought to the area to prevent further unrest and violence. Residents are naturally angry at recent events. All parties are hopeful that these measures will prevent irrational actions and bring about peace to the area during the night,” he said.
Swart said that in an attempt to calm the situation, a voluntary curfew after 10pm would be imposed to minimise the number of people on the streets, as well as a voluntary closure of taverns and businesses in the area at 10pm.
Cape Times