The Sunday News
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
EMOTIONS ran high yesterday at the burial of slain Elvis Nyathi, with family members and dignitaries clamouring for the apprehension and punishment of those who brutally murdered the 43-year-old Zimbabwean.
Nyathi, who was stoned and then burnt to death in Diepsloot in Johannesburg, South Africa on 6 April by a vigilante group that claimed to be clamping down on crime by foreigners in the community, was buried at Umvutsha Park Cemetery in Bulawayo during a state assisted funeral.
There were gasps of pain and suppressed wails as Nyathi’s brother, Goodknows Nyathi, told grief-stricken mourners how the late Nyathi was stalked, pursued and brutally beaten by his assailants, who demanded R300 from his wife if they were to let him live, as he did not possess a valid passport. Nyathi, who worked as a gardener in Johannesburg’s more affluent suburbs, had reportedly only just got home when he was savaged by the mob.
The incident comes in the wake of increased xenophobic sentiment in South Africa, with the Nhlanhla Lux spearheaded Operation Dudula igniting tensions between locals and black immigrants in that country.
Speaking during an emotional service held at Brethren in Christ Church in Lobengula West, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube said the nation was mourning as a whole as Nyathi’s death was a bitter pill to swallow given Zimbabwe’s history with South Africa.
“As a country we have been extremely hurt by what has happened to Elvis.
This is hurt that is being felt by the whole nation. We all feel this because there’s not a single family that does not have someone in South Africa. We realise that if this can happen to one of us, it can happen to anyone.
This is why we are mourning Elvis collectively as a nation.
“It is shocking that something of this nature can happen in this day and age. Migration of Zimbabweans to South Africa is not a new thing. We had people moving to South Africa even before independence.
It makes us wonder why some people are turning on fellow Africans instead of talking through problems,” she said.
Minister Ncube said that President Mnangagwa was moved by the brutal murder of Nyathi, hence the decision to grant him a state assisted funeral. Minister Ncube also had words of comfort for Nyathi’s widow, Nomsa Tshuma, who now has the tough task of raising their four children alone.
“What has happened is a very painful tragedy.
When we went and told President Mnangagwa about this, he did not say a word, he just went to his office and did what needed to be done because this was for a Zimbabwean that had lost his life in a foreign place.
This was for one of us. Zimbabweans know God and we are very prayerful nation.
One way or another justice will be delivered one day. To his wife I say a tragedy has befallen but stay strong especially for the sake of the children that still have their whole lives ahead of them,” she said.
Nyathi’s uncle, Mr Mphathisi Ndlovu said the family wanted to see the culprits behind Nyathi’s death brought to book. He however, lauded Zimbabweans for coming together to help the family bid Nyathi a worthy farewell.
“It is our wish to see the people that did that to be apprehended and punished. There is no human being that should depart the earth in that manner.
As a family we would also like to thank the people of Zimbabwe for the grace and unity they have showed us during such a tough time for the family.
For the first time ever, we have seen Zimbabweans, all speaking different languages, coming together for one common purpose. This is something that we have never seen and we are happy that in his death, Elvis has managed to unite Zimbabweans with all their differences,” he said.
