WATCH | Man stoned to death after chaos erupted at Jika Joe, Pietermaritzburg
Residents said the body was discovered by children, who alerted nearby adults after finding the man lying face down.
A violent incident, believed to have started at the Jika Joe informal settlement, resulted in a man’s body being discovered by the river near the Stable Flats, close to the informal settlement, on Friday afternoon.
Residents said the body was discovered by children, who alerted nearby adults after finding the man lying face down.
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Witnesses described scenes of panic, saying a group of people armed with sticks ran through the flats towards Jika Joe, while women from the settlement fled in the opposite direction towards Manor Flats.
“It was a terrible sight seeing people running in terror. Even the children were traumatised,” said a resident.
Residents alleged that the man had earlier been attacked by a group who stoned him.
The residents said a private security company, B Secure, was called to the scene and confirmed that the man appeared to have died.
It is further alleged that the deceased’s brother was also injured during the incident.
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When The Witness arrived at the scene nearly two hours later, police were not present, the area had not been cordoned off, and the body remained uncovered.
In an emotional moment, two women arrived to identify the deceased. After confirming his identity, they ran off in tears to inform the family.
Ward councillor Suraya Reddy described the incident as a crisis, saying human rights were being violated.
“Human lives are now at risk, whether foreign national or South African. We cannot allow people to come into communities and take a life. This is the problem I am currently facing in this ward,” said Reddy.
Police had not yet provided an official comment at the time of publication.