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Foreign nationals in court for tavern owner murder

───   KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 07:33 Tue, 07 Feb 2023

Foreign nationals in court for tavern owner murder  | News Article
By Hoek Lounge. PHOTO: Facebook

Three foreign nationals from Lesotho who were arrested following the murder of the By Hoek Tavern owner on Sunday will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court today.

The 45-year-old Themba "Gold" Mothibi was shot in the early hours of Sunday morning while closing his liquor outlet. Its alleged that he was threatened by one of the suspects after he intervened in a fight that broke out at the tavern on Saturday night. 

ALSO READ: Foreigners arrested for murder of Free State tavern owner

Residents went on the rampage on Sunday afternoon and allegedly destroyed food stalls of foreign nationals in the streets of Phahameng and Rocklands, while also forcing public transport driven by foreigners off the road. 

The leader of the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC), Themba Zweni, expressed shock after what he called "an unfortunate turn of events".

ALSO READ: Mangaung pressure group distances itself from attacks on foreigners

He stated the allegations that the death of Mothibi was at the hands of a foreign national further complicates matters and the anger displayed by the community "is understandable", but he called on residents to maintain calm in memory of Mothibi. 

Zweni further said that MCC has met with the local taxi association and it was agreed that the issue of illegal foreigners needs to be addressed in a joint operation that would involve the Department of Home Affairs, SA Police Service, taxi associations, and the community of Manguang.

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