Police are still investigating murder, assault and attempted murder incidents in Phoenix Joyce Maboja, from Bhambayi, north of Durban, was shot in the abdomen and left leg during the riot in July on her way to a clinic in Phoenix. She used to do housework but has not been able to work since the incident. Her mother, who helped pay the household expenses, died earlier this month and her sisters are also unemployed. Police Minister General Bheki Cele said 56 people were arrested in connection with the murder of 36 people in Phoenix during the July riot. He said cases of attempted murders and assaults are still being investigated. Joyce Maboja was walking to a clinic in Phoenix – while the unrest in the area intensified – when she was struck in the abdomen and left leg by stray bullets. The shots left 35-year-old Maboja without using her left leg. She lives with her family in a small two-room house in Bhambayi, north of Durban. Maboja recounted the day she was shot and said she was going to the clinic for help because of an “uncontrollable asthma attack”. She turned around, but only found out she was badly injured when she got home. “My family found me lying on the bed covered in blood. My sisters insisted we go to the Inanda Community Health Center, but it was closed. The next day I went to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where I was transferred to another hospital, where they were taken away. “Some debris from the wounds,” she said. Maboja said she has not had any domestic servant work since her injury was able to find other work that she could do. Her mother, who helped finance the household, died on September 9, 2021. Maboja’s younger sisters are also unemployed and the family of nine now lives on welfare. “That changed my life. I only sleep all day because my leg hurts most of the time. My sisters take care of me by helping me when I go to the bathroom and preparing food for me. I’m not used to relying on myself. “On others,” said Maboja. In early September, during a visit to uMlazi, south of Durban, where 11 people were killed in the riot, Police Minister Bheki Cele said 56 people were arrested in connection with the killing of 36 people in Phoenix. Sign up for AllAfrica’s free newsletter and get the latest news from Africa delivered to your inbox. Success! Almost done … We need to verify your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Failure! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said police are still investigating 52 cases of attempted murder, nine cases of aggravated assault and 16 cases of assault with intent to cause aggravated assault. Some of those arrested are believed to be linked to multiple murder cases, while others are charged with attempted murder, malicious damage to property and disregard for the aims of the judiciary. Cele also noted the racial tensions that erupted in the community during and after the riots. When GroundUp asked police for progress on Maboja’s case, the Department of Police spokesman put questions to the provincial office, but when GroundUp contacted the office, we were told they had no response. Social workers from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development visited Maboja and her family last week to assess the situation. They promised to return with mattresses and blankets and other basic family items. Maboja plans to apply for a disability allowance until she can find a job again. “I don’t want to be dependent on people my whole life. I have to find a way to work for my family. What happened to me could have happened to anyone, but I’m not going to let it ruin my life. ”
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