"I just took what I could and ran": displaced residents describe night of terror

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - “We were still inside when people started burning down our house...I just took what I could and I ran.”

Dolinda Mabunda, a Mozambican mother with a young son, was one of over 300 people who fled Asla Park between yesterday evening 29 May and this morning as suspected xenophobic attacks erupted across the area.

“They said we should leave or we'll get hurt,” said Mabunda.

“It didn't look like anything serious at first but late at night, I told my son's father that we should go to my sister because there it was a little safer.”

However, before the family could flee, their home was set alight, prompting them to grab what they could and run for their lives.

She claimed people also beat up her aunt. Mabunda said if her and her family can get transport, they will go back to Mozambique.

Listen to the full interview below

People who fled Asla arrived at a central spot in town this morning, awaiting transport or a safe place they could spend the next few nights. Police have asked that the spot not be named for the safety of the people currently still there.

Mossel Bay Advertiser went to the location to talk to a few people who had been displaced, one of them being Mabunda.

Another was Uswaldo Bila, also from Mozambique, who had been living in Asla Park for four years before his home was burned down during the unrest in the early hours of this morning.

He said he arrived at the central point at 06:00 and was still waiting for transport by 14:00 on Saturday.
Bila said he is a contractor and will likely try and get transport to Johannesburg.

Joseph Ntuli said although his home was not burned, he fled because he was scared. He said he is going to try to make his way back to Mozambique.

Da Gamaskop Community Policing Forum chairperson, Hannelie Marais said there were over 300 people who gathered at the point, many with injuries due to alleged assaults during the unrest.

“Many people here lost their homes; their documents were burned. There are lots of women and children here as well.”

She said that buses had been organised for some people to go straight back to Mozambique but at a cost of R1 800 per person.

“Some people lost everything in the fire. They don't have anything, definitely not R1 800,” she said.
She said those who could not get transport today, would be taken to a safe place tonight. Marais said another bus was being organised but that it would cost R2 000 to come from Cape Town.

Marais has asked the greater Mossel Bay community to donate blankets and mattresses for those who have been displaced and these items can be dropped off at the KwaNonqaba Police Station in Mayixhale Street or at the Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services at the corner of Louis Fourie and Schoeman Roads.
If you would like to help with transport for those who have been displaced, contact Marais on 083 255 1008.

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