Phoenix survivors speak out

Westville policeman Constable Sthenjwa Dlamini’s car was set alight in Phoenix. I SUPPLIED

Westville policeman Constable Sthenjwa Dlamini’s car was set alight in Phoenix. I SUPPLIED

Published Jul 28, 2021

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DURBAN - PHOENIX residents who survived a hail of bullets live in fear as their attackers continue to walk freely in the area.

Opening up about the trauma when alleged looters were targeted and cars were torched, Siphosethu Mkhize, 32, said they were still horrified by the hostility they faced.

The township became the centre of attention when some of the Indian residents in the area allegedly racially profiled Africans while targeting looters. Cars were burnt during the mass looting of shops and vandalising of property.

Mkhize, who owns two vehicles which he uses as Bolt transport, told the Daily News that he was appalled by the incidents as the mob appeared to be only attacking black people, including those who lived in Phoenix.

Mkhize and his friend Sandile Ntuli, 28, were attacked on Greenbury Drive by a group of people they identified as “Indians” who grew up with them in Phoenix. Mkhize said he was with Ntuli when he saw a mob smashing people’s cars on the road and shooting at those inside them, while others ran for their lives.

Siphosethu Mkhize’s car was smashed and shot at in Phoenix. I SUPPLIED

His car was shot at several times and he managed to escape, but he realised that Ntuli was bleeding from his thigh.

“I grew up with them, I transport them every day with my cars. I have lived here for more than 25 years with the same people who wanted to kill us. I have no money to fix my car, I am even scared of driving around because they may want to come back and finish what they started.

“Why block the roads and shoot at the cars of only black people, if this was not a racial attack? I am hurt and I feel helpless as the government failed to come forward and arrest those people.” Ntuli said he was traumatised by the incident and was still trying to make sense of what had happened.

He said he was fortunate to be alive and was waiting for a bullet lodged in his thigh to be removed.

Sandile Ntuli was shot twice on his thigh and knee. I SUPPLIED

Doctors had referred him to Addington Hospital to get help.

“I am in pain, the bullet is stuck in my flesh, and doctors at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital told me they were not equipped to remove the bullet. I can’t tell you how we managed to survive because I thought were going to die and get burnt in our car.”

Sandile Ntuli was shot twice on his thigh and knee. I SUPPLIED

Westville policeman Constable Sthenjwa Dlamini, who is also a Phoenix resident, said his vehicle was burnt after a mob had blocked a road and shot at alleged looters.

This was the same area where Ntuli and Mkhize were attacked.

“I had sent my younger brother Ntuthuko Dlamini to the petrol station to refill the tank. On his way back home, he called and said that people were shooting at him and he was trying to escape but they had blocked all roads. He was assisted by people who knew him, and they pulled him out of the car and ran off. Unfortunately, the car was burnt, but I am happy he’s alive.”

Dlamini said he was “deeply troubled” as his car was not insured and he would not be able to buy another vehicle because he had other financial responsibilities.

Dlamini, Mkhize and Ntuli have each opened a case at the Phoenix police station.

Asked whether more arrests would be made in Phoenix, provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said she could not comment on the matter as it was now a national matter being dealt with at national level.

Phoenix Community Policing Forum chairperson Umesh Singh said it was unfortunate that criminals had hijacked the good cause of protecting Phoenix, and turned it into a crime scene. “Criminals should be arrested, and those who can identify them must alert the police so that they can be arrested. Phoenix is a very diverse community and it is important that social cohesion be enforced.”

Daily News