PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER CONDEMNS UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AT

PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER CONDEMNS UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AT PIENAAR

Nelspruit - The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela condemns the spate of violence that erupted at Pienaar during and after the funeral of a Mayibuye Secondary School learner Sunday 02 March 2014. The learner alleged to fatally shot by a Somalian national. Reports revealed that the situation became tense as shops owned by foreign nationals were vandalised and looted. Four people wounded in the process due to gunshots fired by unknown individuals.

This prompted by the death of a 20-year-old learner, Wellington Hendry Dube, who was allegedly shot on Tuesday, 25 February 2014, at approximately 07:30. Dube was on his way to school and walked passed a shop owned by the foreign national to see his fellow schoolmates who were standing outside the shop. The shop owner came out of the shop whereby an altercation ensued in which he allegedly accused Dube of being one of the people who committed robbery at his shop. He allegedly began to assault Dube with his fists. It’s alleged that Dube took out a knife from his pocket and the shop owner fatally shot him with a pistol.

Some community members became outrageous yesterday, breaking the doors, removing corrugated irons from a number of shops owned by foreign nationals around the Pienaar area and looting them. The police worked tirelessly to ensure that they maintain order and managed to arrest thirteen (13) suspects aged between 18 and 30.  The suspects appeared before the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 4 March 2014, facing a charge of public violence.

The police are issuing a stern warning to community members who participate in unlawful protests, damaging property, looting from shops and other unlawful acts, to be aware that it is an offence which is punishable by law.

“We further urge the community not to take the law into their own hands we are calling for restraint and calm. Let us allow the process of the law to take its course”, said the Provincial Commissioner.

In the meantime, the police are still looking for the suspect (foreign national) who has been on the run since the death of Dube. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects requested to contact Warrant Officer Andrew Thwala at 013 794 9397.