Operation Dudula members are mourning the death of one of their member, who was allegedly shot and killed in an alleged xenophobic attack in Soweto.
Police have confirmed that they are investigation a case of murder and five counts of attempted murder following an altercation between Operation Dudula members and residents of Chicken Farm in Soweto on Monday.
“According to the police’s preliminary reports, it is alleged that on 18 April 2022 at about 16:30, a group of people allegedly residents of Pimville with Operation Dudula members marched to Chicken Farm informal settlement in Kliptown. Pimville residents are complaining about theft of electricity cables.
“There was an altercation, shots were fired, one person was certified dead on the scene and five more people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds for medical treatment. All of the victims are reported to be South Africans. A case of murder and five counts of attempted murder has been registered for investigation. No one has been arrested yet,” said SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili.
Operation Dudula spokesperson Enock Nango said there was an incident of a cable theft after it had been cut allegedly by some Sotho nationals.
“Our members went to find out about the cable theft, as they were talking they were confronted by some Sotho nationals, they drew guns and shot our people. Our members ran for cover unfortunately one person was killed and about five were injured including women,” said Nango.
The deceased has been identified as Kgomotso Diale.
On Monday, Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla “Lux” Dlamini took to social media and claimed that “Zimbabweans and Sotho nationals allegedly attacked his group”.
One Tweet read: “1 of our guys died on the spot; we are waiting for hospitals to update us on the 5+ South African women who got shot from the back. Question for illegal foreigners and South African politicians; are u sure about this route you are taking?”
Police also dismissed claims that Dlamini was shot on Monday.
The Star understands that the community of Pimville had been without power for a number of days. On Easter Monday some community members together with some members of Operation Dudula accompanied Eskom workers to the site where they were working to replace the stolen cable.
The group was met by the leaders of the Chicken Farm informal settlement who were unhappy about their presence. Another group came behind the residents and fired random gunshots, encircling the communing members.
Chaos ensued, resulting in some of the residents being shot. The Star has been reliably told that one elderly woman was in critical care at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, while some had been treated for minor injuries.
The Star visited the family of Kgomotso Diale, from Zone 7, who was shot in the head.
Kgomotso’s brother, Neo Diale, said his brother was shot in the head after he fell down during the panic that took place when the first shots were fired.
“They came to fetch my brother on Monday because we were having electricity problems so a few of them said they were going to protect Eskom workers to replace the cable because the workers were scared,” he said.
Diale said he asked himself what had happened to his brother when he noticed that he had not come back with the others. He was later told that his brother had been shot in the head.
When The Star visited the Diale family in Pimville, there was still no electricity. It was not clear if Eskom workers had finished the job. Nozipho Diale, who is Kgomotso’s mother, said she was shocked that Eskom needed protection from community members to do their work.
“I really don’t understand the whole thing. My son was not carrying a weapon and they just shot him,” the mother said.
Speaking to The Star outside his house, Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini said he had heard that a number of people had been injured from the gathering they had at Chicken Farm.
Dlamini blamed illegal foreigners for the shootings. He said the community was ambushed and all hell broke loose from there on.
“The community was going to the area where the cable was stolen. Sometimes the Eskom workers are killed for this cable. When we passed through that informal settlement they just opened fire,” Dlamini said.
He said there were a number of deaths from that incident but the media had not reported the matter.
“The cables are always stolen in Pimville and the police are scared of going into these informal settlements. I was arrested for raiding a drug dealer's house, but foreigners can kill South Africans,” Dlamini said.
The Star understands that the community of Zone 7 had an issue with their councillor. Some of them were refusing to acknowledge the councillor because of a number of allegations. Dlamini said he wished to clarify that going with the Eskom workers was an initiative of the community and not Dudula.