South African taxi and minibus drivers have stoned to death a 28-year-old Zambian national after mistaking him for their west-African enemy in a town called Klerksdorp.

According to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa Naomi Nyawali, the deceased identified as Rabson Zulu was first stabbed by a group of over 30 drivers who mistook him for another foreign national whom they accused of murder.

“Rabson Zulu, holder of passport number 528427 was stabbed with a knife before being stoned to death together with four (4) other foreign nationals by a group of over 30 drivers in collaboration with the local community. According to the information made available to the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria, Mr. Zulu was murdered over the weekend in a case of alleged mistaken identity at a tuck shop located in Pinasdorp area where he had gone to buy washing powder to clean the car for his relative who he was visiting. It is alleged that the enraged mob of taxi and minibus drivers together with local people wanted to carry out a revenge attack on an identified foreign national of West African origin for allegedly killing one of the taxi drivers who was accused of raping his employee,” Nyawali stated.

Nyawali revealed that after realizing that they had killed a wrong person, the mob fled the scene and no arrests had been made.

“After realising that they had killed an innocent person, the mob fled the scene with no arrests made so far. Mr. Zulu’s mortal remains have since been deposited at Tsepong government mortuary awaiting repatriation to Zambia. His death comes barely few weeks after another Zambian national, Kenneth Sikopo was shot dead in cold blood in Germiston in the same country,” disclosed Nyawali.

And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has expressed sadness over the incident.

Mwamba has since called on police to carry out thorough investigations to ensure that Zulu’s murderers face justice, and has further wished the bereaved family and the entire Zambian community in South Africa God’s strength during the difficult time.