Western Cape police have dismissed claims that a Limpopo teenager killed in Mossel Bay was targeted during anti-immigration protests.
18-year-old Nhlamulo Sambo, a South African citizen from Giyani in Limpopo, was fatally stabbed in KwaNonqaba in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Initial reports suggested he had been attacked by residents who believed he was an undocumented foreign national.
The incident followed a violent anti-immigration protest in the area on Friday night.
However, police said preliminary investigations point to a different motive.
Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile said Sambo was confronted while allegedly attempting to steal items from a shack.
“A 15-year-old that was with the deceased who apparently hid inside the shack, said they went inside the shack with the purpose of taking some goods and they were accosted by the owner of the shack who arrived. At that time the owner of the shack then chased the deceased and stabbed him to death.”
Patekile said they are searching for the suspect, while the investigation into the murder continues.
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Ntuthuzelo Nene
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