Zimbabwean immigrants speak out after Addo attacks

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In the wake of violence that left four dead and hundreds displaced in Addo in the Eastern Cape, the Zimbabwean immigrant community finds itself in mourning for their neighbours, their homes, and their sense of dignity.

The chain of events began with a tavern fight between Zimbabwean nationals and South Africans, as reported by eNCA. One man, a local, died.

How the Addo violence escalated

Community members said anger started after local police released one of the murder suspects.

On Sunday, 25 May, residents retaliated by attacking foreign nationals living in Valencia.

In what police have called “revenge attacks,” mobs descended on immigrant households, forcing entire families to flee in the dead of night.

Mobs moved through immigrant homes in Valencia, forcing hundreds to flee. In the next days, police confirmed three foreign immigrants dead, others injured, and dozens more left homeless.

Groundup reports that some immigrants are now sleeping at police stations. Others have relocated to a church hall in Gqeberha. According to the Zimbabwean Embassy, 30 citizens were injured and 17 remain hospitalised.

‘We apologise,’ Zimbabwean immigrants speak out

Speaking to eNCA News, a Zimbabwean community leader issued a public apology.

“We Zimbabweans are the ones who started this by killing one of the South Africans,” he said.

He asked for forgiveness, saying they are not in South Africa to commit crime, but only to find greener pastures and survive.

According to GroundUp, Zimbabwean immigrant, Anyway Hlungwani, is still in severe pain after they attacked him with crowbars.

“The truth is that I don’t want to hear anything about Valencia. I was beaten for nothing … Had it not been for my wife, who bravely intervened, I could be dead by now,” he told GroundUp.