Full statement by ZANU PF South Africa in response to the brutal murder of a Zimbabwean national by vigilantes in South Africa.
ZANU PF South Africa District condemns the gruesome murder of Elvis Nyati a Zimbabwean national by a South African vigilante group in Diepsloot on the early hours of Thursday 7th April 2022.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and wish to extend our deepest condolences to the wife of Elvis Nyathi and the Nyathi family.
As a party, we unequivocally condemn the brutal and gruesome murder of Mr. Nyathi, a Zimbabwean national through burning and beating.
The videos showing his road to death are horrifying and to imagine that it was perpetrated by fellow humans on another human is unimaginable.
The fact that this murder is one of many murders of foreign nationals that have been going on in South Africa for a very long time is regrettable.
As a party, ZANU PF SA respects the South African security services and other government functionaries.
It is therefore worrisome that a group of people can take the law into their hands, harass foreign nationals from African countries with impunity.
How vigilante groups in a country that has a whole functional police service and home affairs department, carry out unsanctioned activities uncheckered resulting in loss of property and lives is unfortunate.
ZANU PF SA does not condone any acts of criminality by its citizens and anyone for that matter.
It respects and values the rule of law, the sanctity of life and human rights.
To that end anyone caught on the wrong side of the law should be brought before the courts of law following due process.
ZANU PF also condemns the unsanctioned and unwarranted witch-hunting of foreign nationals in South Africa and labelling them as criminals.
We reiterate that we do not condone any criminality by any of the Zimbabwean nationals.
However, we believe that crime is crime regardless of nationality. It should therefore be dealt with as crime by authorities within the confines of the laws of South Africa and not by any vigilante group.
As a liberation movement, ZANU PF believes in the oneness and respect of Africa and Africans.
We, therefore, see the current wave of vigilantism as one of the many sponsored acts by those who seek to see the disunity of liberation movements and Africans in general.
As a liberation movement, ZANU PF believes in the oneness and respect of Africa and Africans.
We therefore see the current wave of vigilantism as one of the many sponsored acts by those who seek to see the disunity of liberation movements and Africans in general.
We, therefore, appeal to the South African government, our sister liberation movement the African National Congress, and South African nationals to look for a lasting solution to this issue that will foster unity and cooperation among Africans in the region and continent in general.
Vigilantism has no place in a functional country like South Africa, hence it must be condemned by all.