Mossel Bay unrest: 2 charged with murder, more arrests expected

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Two suspects, aged 19 and 26, were arrested this morning, 9 June, in connection with the murder of a Mozambican man, Tomas Chunguane (27), who was killed amid the public unrest in KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay, on Saturday 30 May.

According to a statement released by the office of the Western Cape provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, the arrests were made during the early hours of this morning, following a trace operation the police had conducted.

The suspects are expected to make their first appearance in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 11 June.

The protest action against the presence of foreign nationals in Mossel Bay erupted in the KwaNonqaba area on Friday 29 May, and resulted in Chunguane’s death, as well as the death of another Mozambican man, Danilo Muianga (43), over that weekend.

The investigations into Muianga’s death are still ongoing, and no arrests have yet been made.

Additionally, the police also arrested a 30-year-old suspect believed to be the leader of the protesting group. He appeared in court on Monday 8 June on charges of incitement to commit public violence.

“He was remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court on 22 June for a bail application,” reads the provincial commissioner’s statement. “With the investigations gaining momentum, further arrests are expected soon.”

More than 50 homes in KwaNonqaba were set alight and destroyed during the public unrest, displacing hundreds of people as a result.

Residents from Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Limpopo were temporarily housed in places of safety before they were transported back to their home countries or province.

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