Four foreign-owned shops were vandalised in Cala yesterday after police arrested a Zimbabwean national on suspicion of murder.
By late yesterday, the situation was under control and calm restored.
Tensions flared when a 28-year-old suspect was arrested after police discovered the body of a young woman said to be his girlfriend.
He is expected to appear in the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court soon.
“This arrest followed after Cala SAPS received information about the discovery of a body in the area of extension 15.
“The SAPS, together with community members, started to search for the missing woman and discovered her body in the dongas, covered in a blanket not far from the village,” said provincial police spokesman Brigadier Marinda Mills.
The deceased was identified as Zandile Dudumashe, 23, of extention 15.
Mills said that members of the public became violent after the discovery of the body and vandalising four shops.
“Public order police were called to the scene to quell the violence and restore peace and order.
“Some of the foreign nationals were taken to the police station and other locations to ensure their safety while the police and community leaders addressed and requested the public not to take the law into their own hands and to allow the SAPS to finalise the murder investigation,” said Mills.
One foreigner suffered minor injuries. No arrests have been made in relation to the damage of property.
Eastern Cape deputy provincial commissioner Major-General Zamuthonga Mki has called for calm and appealed to the Cala community not to take the law into their own hands but trust law-enforcement officers to do their work.
“Everyone working and living in the Eastern Cape must be treated with the necessary dignity and respect.
“Any case of wrongdoing whether by a South African or foreign national must be reported to the police who have been mandated to investigate and combat crime. The SAPS will do everything within its power to ensure the safety of all citizens and foreign nationals and lawlessness will not be tolerated,” said Mki yesterday.
Chris Hani ANC Youth League chairman Sibongile Mbotshane, speaking to the Dispatch at 3pm yesterday, said: “At the moment I can say that the area is no longer tense but calm. We wish and pray that nothing else happens.”
He said police officers were monitoring the situation. Mbotshane also said local leaders from Cala have had numerous meetings with police to ensure that everything was under control in the area.
Murder sparks fury in Cala
By late yesterday, the situation was under control and calm restored.
Tensions flared when a 28-year-old suspect was arrested after police discovered the body of a young woman said to be his girlfriend.
He is expected to appear in the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court soon.
“This arrest followed after Cala SAPS received information about the discovery of a body in the area of extension 15.
“The SAPS, together with community members, started to search for the missing woman and discovered her body in the dongas, covered in a blanket not far from the village,” said provincial police spokesman Brigadier Marinda Mills.
The deceased was identified as Zandile Dudumashe, 23, of extention 15.
Mills said that members of the public became violent after the discovery of the body and vandalising four shops.
“Public order police were called to the scene to quell the violence and restore peace and order.
“Some of the foreign nationals were taken to the police station and other locations to ensure their safety while the police and community leaders addressed and requested the public not to take the law into their own hands and to allow the SAPS to finalise the murder investigation,” said Mills.
One foreigner suffered minor injuries. No arrests have been made in relation to the damage of property.
Eastern Cape deputy provincial commissioner Major-General Zamuthonga Mki has called for calm and appealed to the Cala community not to take the law into their own hands but trust law-enforcement officers to do their work.
“Everyone working and living in the Eastern Cape must be treated with the necessary dignity and respect.
“Any case of wrongdoing whether by a South African or foreign national must be reported to the police who have been mandated to investigate and combat crime. The SAPS will do everything within its power to ensure the safety of all citizens and foreign nationals and lawlessness will not be tolerated,” said Mki yesterday.
Chris Hani ANC Youth League chairman Sibongile Mbotshane, speaking to the Dispatch at 3pm yesterday, said: “At the moment I can say that the area is no longer tense but calm. We wish and pray that nothing else happens.”
He said police officers were monitoring the situation. Mbotshane also said local leaders from Cala have had numerous meetings with police to ensure that everything was under control in the area.
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