Police held an urgent meeting with Hooggenoeg residents at the Recreation Hall on Thursday 22 January to calm a situation which has sparked fresh fears of xenophobic attacks.
Police held an urgent meeting with Hooggenoeg residents at the Recreation Hall on Thursday 22 January to calm a situation which has sparked fresh fears of xenophobic attacks.
This comes as plans by a group of the residents to have a foreign shop owner evicted from their area were halted. Hooggenoeg residents Wednesday 21 January drew up a petition to remove the Pakistani national and his business from the area.
They alleged he had beaten up a man in public.
The man was reportedly his brother, also a shopkeeper.
The change of heart comes after the man made a public apology to the residents for his act.
"Some people have accepted the apology and feel that he should stay, but some are still adamant he should leave our community," Ward 3 committee member Beulah Douglas told Grocott's Mail on Tuesday 27 January. Douglas said the shop owner is back in business, despite his uncertain future in the area.
"We will meet again later this week for a final decision on the matter," she said.
Wednesday 21 January residents of Seventh Avenue in Hooggenoeg threatened to burn down the shop if the police did not remove the businessman. The man and his employee were accused of beating and dragging a fellow Pakistani in front of a crowd last week.
The victim was believed to have stolen money from him.
At the time, Grahamstown Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and kidnapping, had been opened.
"Two 23-year-old males were arrested and are still in police custody," Govender said on Thursday 22 January.
"The victim was in Extension 6 when the suspects came and beat him using a stick, tied his arms against his back and threw him into the back of a bakkie." Govender said the victim was freed by private security guards.
Crime Intelligence Officer Captain Milanda Coetzer said a meeting with residents was attended by Sector manager Warrant Officer Chris Duiker and Community Policing Forum Chairperson Glenda Duffy.
"The [residents'] petition was not handed to the police," Coetzer said.
"At the meeting the SAPS stressed the importance of the community not taking the law into their own hands. "Since a case docket was opened by the victim in this case, the community was also advised to let justice take its course."
According to Coetzer, agreement was reached that the police would monitor the situation, speak to the local councillor and would call a meeting in the near future to provide feedback.
"The community was satisfied with the outcome of this meeting," Coetzer said.
