EXCLUSIVE: THE KILLING OF EMMANUEL SITHOLE, THE MOZAMBICAN KILLED IN THE SOUTH AFRICA XENOPHOBIA ATTACKS [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Johannesburg (BloomGist) --- Emmanuel Sithole, The Mozambican was walking down a street when four South Africans surrounded him. He pleaded for mercy ... but it was already too late. The attackers stabbed him with knives --- all in broad daylight ... and they were all captured in camera.

The attackers eventually moved away and left Emmanuel alone. Sunday Times' Oatway and another other journalist Beauregard Tromp rushed him to a hospital, where he later died.

Local media alleged that the attacks were a consequence of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly saying at a recent gathering that foreigners "should pack their bags and go" because they are taking jobs from citizens. Later, Zwelithini said he had not called for a war on immigrants: "This war I am calling for today is to protect everyone of foreign origin in this country irrespective of which country they are from."

"I still remember (Sithole) looking straight into my eyes," Oatway said. "He had a kind of a dazed, shocked look in his face."

Another photographer, Antoine de Ras, captured the moment Oatway and local authorities assisted the victim. Oatway is the one holding Sithole's belt.
"I'm sickened by it," Oatway said. "And I'm extremely angry, angry with the men that did this and ultimately I'm upset that our efforts weren't successful in saving Emmanuel's life."

Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole, left, was walking down a street in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township when four men surrounded him on Saturday, April 18. Sithole pleaded for mercy, but it was already too late. The attackers bludgeoned him with a wrench and stabbed him with knives, killing him in broad daylight. Photographer James Oatway was nearby and captured it all on his camera.

Oatway said he tried to get as close as possible. "When the attack started I was 20 meters away, but at one point I was four or five meters away," he said. "I did think that maybe they would leave him alone."

Oatway's images landed on the front page of South Africa's Sunday Times under the headline, "Kill thy neighbor: Alex attack brings home SA's shame." Seven people have been killed in the latest round of xenophobic violence against poorer immigrants, many from South Africa's neighbors.

The attackers eventually moved on and left Sithole alone. Oatway and fellow journalist Beauregard Tromp rushed Sithole to a hospital, where he later died.

Local media alleged that the attacks were a consequence of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly saying at a recent gathering that foreigners "should pack their bags and go" because they are taking jobs from citizens. Later, Zwelithini said he had not called for a war on immigrants: "This war I am calling for today is to protect everyone of foreign origin in this country irrespective of which country they are from."

"I still remember (Sithole) looking straight into my eyes," Oatway said. "He had a kind of a dazed, shocked look in his face."

Another photographer, Antoine de Ras, captured the moment Oatway and local authorities assisted the victim. Oatway is the one holding Sithole's belt.

"I'm sickened by it," Oatway said. "And I'm extremely angry, angry with the men that did this and ultimately I'm upset that our efforts weren't successful in saving Emmanuel's life."



Credits:
Sunday Times, CNN, Nox Africa
Antoine de Ras, James Oatway