SOUTH AFRICA — An Ethiopian academic, working on a research project at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), may pack his bags and go home after being assaulted at a suburban shopping centre this week.
Wondimu Alem Gebreye said he had been buying groceries at the Spar at Glenfair shopping centre in Lynnwood Glen, when he was accosted, taken to the back of the store and beaten up.
He claims that members of the store’s management were involved in the attack. He said he had no idea what provoked the incident, which led to a swollen eye and an ear injury.
He claimed one of his assailants kicked him in his testicles and stamped on him while he was on the ground.
Dr Sivakumar Venkataraman, Gebreye’s supervisor, said Gebreye was so traumatised he was considering abandoning his laser research project and going back to Ethiopia.
Dr Paul Motalane, manager for tertiary education programmes at the CSIR’s National Laser Centre, said he had been to the Spar to try and find out what happened, only to be told the manager was not available.
He accused the store of not taking responsibility for what had happened.
When the Pretoria News went to the Spar at around noon on Friday to investigate, our reporter was told to leave the store or be thrown out.
When the Pretoria News called the owner, who only gave his name as “Chris”, he declined to comment.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Lynnette Erasmus said a case of common assault had been opened.
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FORUM | 9 Comments
I think those narrowminded people want’s to be slaved agian that’s what they want. They should know Ethiopian people stood by them when got aboused by whites. God bless Ethiopia
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September 7th, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Do these idiots south african knows that when mandela arrested for the last time before he spent 27 years in jail he was holding ethiopian passport.They really don’t know their friends and foes.They are dying of inferiorty complex.what else we have to think if it is not inferiorty?we did stood by them till the end.we didn’t slaved them nor abused them.why they don’t take it their anger to the british and the dutches white mens.They are to be blamed and they are(british-dutch)who colonized them.They should take their anger to them not to their african brothers and sisters.
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September 7th, 2008 at 1:08 PM
keros how do you know the attackers were blacks?
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September 7th, 2008 at 6:59 PM
They can’t take their anger to their old masters, because they do not have the gut to do so. They are stupid, lazy and jealous, who can’t think beyond their nose.Ethiopia had spent its time and wealth to free these type of animals. First and for most, it would have been better to free our own people from poverty and literacy than to help useless fat monkeys.
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September 7th, 2008 at 7:53 PM
They couldn’t take their anger against their masters, because they have no gut. These are stupid lazy and jealous people who cant think beyond their nose. Ethiopia had spent its time and wealth to make them free, but first and for most it would have been better if we fight poverty and literacy within our own country than to help such fat brainless monkeys.
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September 7th, 2008 at 8:04 PM
I know that he is our brother. But we have to clearly know whether White or Black attacked him.So we should not blame black not having clear evidence. Because SA is a country where all kind of people live togather in peace. As Ethiopian we have to respect SA people. I love them very much. They respect people like Ethiopian
God blesse Ethiopia
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September 8th, 2008 at 5:00 AM
Is there an Ethiopian Embasy there? I wish to hear what their opinion is about this issue.
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September 8th, 2008 at 5:17 AM
My friends, this kind of attract is common in south Africa against foreigners. The reason is too obvious ,the success of the newly comers have angered them with jealousy and rage . Because of this kind of treat and attack , most of young people from Addis have organized themselves to protect them and their interest. It is not easy but it is better than nothing. This man allegedly beaten up by south Africans ,is a very lucky guy. Mostly they would not be too soft on their attack.(either your dead or you might as well be dead)
PS: Good news to all Ethiopians though! Ethiopian military officer in Somalia has abounded Weyanee and joined the freedom fighters .
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September 8th, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Was there a surveilance camera around the shopping center at all? It doesn’t matter if it’s white or black who attacked the person. Since the police filed a case the victim should sue the owner of the center,because he was attacked in that property.
God Bless Ethiopia and South Africa.
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September 26th, 2008 at 9:24 PM