A Burundian refugee was beaten up in an apparent xenophobic attack on a train near Claremont station, and later died in hospital.
Police have opened a murder docket.
Albert Mugabe, 27, had boarded a train at Retreat after visiting friends. He was reportedly attacked when the train neared Claremont by a group of Xhosa-speaking people, but Metrorail was under the impression that Mugabe was attacked when he tried to rob someone.
Metrorail's Riana Scott confirmed that "an incident of attempted robbery aboard train No 0188 was reported on Thursday, July 22 at 5.40pm at Claremont Station and that the alleged assailant was taken to Groote Schuur hospital for treatment".
This version of events has been denied by Mugabe's friend, Fidel Nzayikorera, who said the claim was utter nonsense.
"He had money, he worked hard and had no family, why would he need to rob someone? It just does not make sense."
After his body lay in the Salt River Mortuary as an "unknown", Mugabe's friends found him there and identified his body.
Nzayikorera, Aimable Cyuma, Methuselah Mukenga, Alexis Nduwe and Pastor John Kadende, all friends of Mugabe, have been battling for more than a week to find answers about Mugabe's death.
They said they were informed about the attack by an acquaintance who witnessed it.
Mugabe's friends said they could see no visible signs of injury or disfigurement when they identified his body.
A car guard, Elie Nkundaniyigena from the Congo, is the only person who saw what happened in the final moments of Mugabe's life.
Speaking through an interpreter, he told Weekend Argus he had witnessed the entire incident, but fled from the carriage after the train stopped at Claremont.
Nkundaniyigena said he recognised Mugabe as he stood in the middle of the carriage chatting to other commuters, even though he did not know his name.
"There were South Africans, Zimbabweans and Malawians in the carriage. At first it appeared as if they were just talking, but then someone asked Mugabe if he could speak Xhosa, where he worked and how long he'd been in the country.
According to Nkundaniyigena Mugabe said he could speak Xhosa and that he worked as a safety officer on a boat and lived in Simon's Town.
"Close to Claremont station, the same people started grabbing Mugabe and three other foreigners who were on the same train.
"They kicked Mugabe while the other men managed to escape as soon as the train stopped. I watched in horror, but could do nothing. Everything happened so fast and because I was afraid I stayed low, hiding behind a uniformed man who was sitting next to me."
Nkundaniyigena said when he looked up Mugabe had been pushed down and someone was banging his head against the train floor.
He added that many people fled from the train at Claremont station in fear.
"The people were singing 'makwerekwere hamba, makwerekwere hamba' (get out foreigner)... I ran away without looking back and called a friend who knew the victim."
Nkundaniyigena said the incident left him traumatised and scared because he needs to catch a train to get to work.
"I now take a later train than usual to avoid full trains," he said.
Nzayikorera, a close friend of Mugabe, said after being informed about the incident he tried to retrace Mugabe's steps.
"I went to Groote Schuur hospital on Friday and the sister on duty confirmed that an unknown man was treated in Ward C14 and died the next morning. She referred me to the Salt River mortuary."
Nzayikorera said Mugabe was not a violent man and would not have been involved in crime.
Kadende said they were planning to give Mugabe a proper burial, as he had no relatives in the city.
"He will be buried at Maitland cemetery as soon as we can get the money to arrange the funeral. Nobody knows if Mugabe still has family in Burundi, but it is up to us to bring him peace."
A concerned Kadende said he could not believe that the authorities and the politicians were still in denial about xenophobia.
"Our friend is dead, he was killed for no other reason except the fact that he was a foreigner."
Claremont police spokeswoman Angie Latchman confirmed that police opened a murder docket this week.
She said: "The deceased was assaulted on July 22, at Claremont train station and taken by paramedics to Groote Schuur, where he passed away the next day."
Latchman urged anyone with information about the case to contact the investigating officer, Roger Mintoor, at Claremont police station on 072 869 9160.
Metrorail said on Friday that the matter was tabled at the Provincial Rail Crime Combating Forum this week and would remain the subject of a joint investigation between Metrorail's Protection Services Department and the Railway Police.
- Cape Argus
Police have opened a murder docket.
Albert Mugabe, 27, had boarded a train at Retreat after visiting friends. He was reportedly attacked when the train neared Claremont by a group of Xhosa-speaking people, but Metrorail was under the impression that Mugabe was attacked when he tried to rob someone.
Metrorail's Riana Scott confirmed that "an incident of attempted robbery aboard train No 0188 was reported on Thursday, July 22 at 5.40pm at Claremont Station and that the alleged assailant was taken to Groote Schuur hospital for treatment".
This version of events has been denied by Mugabe's friend, Fidel Nzayikorera, who said the claim was utter nonsense.
"He had money, he worked hard and had no family, why would he need to rob someone? It just does not make sense."
After his body lay in the Salt River Mortuary as an "unknown", Mugabe's friends found him there and identified his body.
Nzayikorera, Aimable Cyuma, Methuselah Mukenga, Alexis Nduwe and Pastor John Kadende, all friends of Mugabe, have been battling for more than a week to find answers about Mugabe's death.
They said they were informed about the attack by an acquaintance who witnessed it.
Mugabe's friends said they could see no visible signs of injury or disfigurement when they identified his body.
A car guard, Elie Nkundaniyigena from the Congo, is the only person who saw what happened in the final moments of Mugabe's life.
Speaking through an interpreter, he told Weekend Argus he had witnessed the entire incident, but fled from the carriage after the train stopped at Claremont.
Nkundaniyigena said he recognised Mugabe as he stood in the middle of the carriage chatting to other commuters, even though he did not know his name.
"There were South Africans, Zimbabweans and Malawians in the carriage. At first it appeared as if they were just talking, but then someone asked Mugabe if he could speak Xhosa, where he worked and how long he'd been in the country.
According to Nkundaniyigena Mugabe said he could speak Xhosa and that he worked as a safety officer on a boat and lived in Simon's Town.
"Close to Claremont station, the same people started grabbing Mugabe and three other foreigners who were on the same train.
"They kicked Mugabe while the other men managed to escape as soon as the train stopped. I watched in horror, but could do nothing. Everything happened so fast and because I was afraid I stayed low, hiding behind a uniformed man who was sitting next to me."
Nkundaniyigena said when he looked up Mugabe had been pushed down and someone was banging his head against the train floor.
He added that many people fled from the train at Claremont station in fear.
"The people were singing 'makwerekwere hamba, makwerekwere hamba' (get out foreigner)... I ran away without looking back and called a friend who knew the victim."
Nkundaniyigena said the incident left him traumatised and scared because he needs to catch a train to get to work.
"I now take a later train than usual to avoid full trains," he said.
Nzayikorera, a close friend of Mugabe, said after being informed about the incident he tried to retrace Mugabe's steps.
"I went to Groote Schuur hospital on Friday and the sister on duty confirmed that an unknown man was treated in Ward C14 and died the next morning. She referred me to the Salt River mortuary."
Nzayikorera said Mugabe was not a violent man and would not have been involved in crime.
Kadende said they were planning to give Mugabe a proper burial, as he had no relatives in the city.
"He will be buried at Maitland cemetery as soon as we can get the money to arrange the funeral. Nobody knows if Mugabe still has family in Burundi, but it is up to us to bring him peace."
A concerned Kadende said he could not believe that the authorities and the politicians were still in denial about xenophobia.
"Our friend is dead, he was killed for no other reason except the fact that he was a foreigner."
Claremont police spokeswoman Angie Latchman confirmed that police opened a murder docket this week.
She said: "The deceased was assaulted on July 22, at Claremont train station and taken by paramedics to Groote Schuur, where he passed away the next day."
Latchman urged anyone with information about the case to contact the investigating officer, Roger Mintoor, at Claremont police station on 072 869 9160.
Metrorail said on Friday that the matter was tabled at the Provincial Rail Crime Combating Forum this week and would remain the subject of a joint investigation between Metrorail's Protection Services Department and the Railway Police.
- Cape Argus
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