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‘Burning man’ photo from 2008 – not 2019 – xenophobic violence in South Africa

In September 2019, xenophobic unrest flared up in parts of South Africa’s Gauteng province

But a number of videos and pictures circulating online, supposedly showing the violence, are unrelated to the events.

Nigerian rapper Skales (real name Raoul John Njeng-Njeng) took to Twitter to express his concern about the violence. He shared a photo of a man on fire with his 560,000 followers. 

In the photo, the man is on all fours, engulfed in flames. Two South African policemen stand behind him. 

“If this pic is recent...just shows the country hasn’t recovered from apartheid !! The aftermath got them killing their own race and rebellious to the human race...shame shame #StopXenophobia #BoyCottSouthAfrica,” the tweet reads



Murder of Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave in 2008


Africa Check looked into this image when it was shared in 2015 and also attributed to xenophobic attacks. 

But the photo is not recent. It was taken during the outbreak of xenophobic attacks in 2008. It shows Mozambican Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave after he was set on fire outside Johannesburg.  

No one was charged with his murder and the investigation was officially closed in October 2010. - Africa Check




 

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