‘Mantšali Phakoana
About 470 Basotho living in South Africa are in dire need of food and shelter following violence that erupted between them and some locals on Friday last week.
An documented man was reportedly stabbed to death with sharp objects during the clash in Siza near Rustenburg in North West province.
An estimated 40 shacks belonging to Basotho were burnt during the skirmishes, the office of the Lesotho Consulate in Klerksdorp South Africa revealed this week.
The Lesotho Klerksdorp Consul, Liranyane Thamae, confirmed that the affected Basotho were now requesting food donations and essentials after the violence left them in a vulnerable situation.
The office of the Lesotho Consulate Klerksdorp and Boitekong SAPS (South African Police Service were working jointly to find the source of the conflict, Thamae noted.
“Dozens of Lesotho nationals have been left vulnerable after a group of Xhosa speaking people burnt down their shelters and properties which left them with no food, water and clothes.
“We therefore, appeal to individuals, the business sector, churches, and community organisations to assist in this situation while relevant authorities are working vigorously towards finding an amicable solution,” he wrote on Wednesday in a letter of appeal.
North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone told the media that three Xhosa men were arrested for public violence over the weekend. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the death, he said.
Lesotho foreign affairs and international relations minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, yesterday told theReporter that he was informed that the group attacked the Basotho after a goat belonging to one of them went missing.
“That prompted the armed Xhosa armed men to start searching shelters around the area including those belonging to the Basotho.
“While searching the shacks, the group reportedly met two Basotho men and one of them ran away when he saw them armed with knobkerries, pangas, and machetes.
“The men reportedly started attacking his colleague who had remained behind, asking why his friend was running away. He was tied up and taken to a house where the goat was reportedly stolen,” he noted.
Mpotjoane added that another three Basotho men eventually arrived at the house and untied the severely assaulted man before transporting him to hospital.
Soon after they had left, the men allegedly attacked all Basotho in the area, accusing them of stealing the goat.
“The attackers burnt down their shacks after they ran away,” he said.
Mpotjoane condemned that attack, citing it was just a way of unsettling Basotho leaving in the neighbouring country.
He indicated that some of the victims were miners in Rustenburg or doing piece jobs, while others were job hunting.
The victims of the attack were being kept in an informal settlement near Rustenburg while the Lesotho government, SAPS and the Klerksdorp Consulate try to find ways of resolving the matter.
Mpotjoane explained that those unemployed would be sent back home since the consulate does not have enough money to cater for their needs.
“The government is negotiating with them to return home; they have nothing to lose if they come back. If they agree, we can make arrangements for them.
“We are not forcing them. We are only making them aware that staying South Africa with no job, food, clothes and shelter will do no good to them,” he noted.
Mpotjoane further admitted that Lesotho’s poor economy was contributing significantly to most of the challenges faced by Basotho living in South Africa.
Some had become beggars and were prone to violent attacks.
He recommitted the government’s efforts to set up various projects in agriculture, energy and exploration to create employment. This would help reduce unnecessary migration of Basotho to South Africa.
