A man was taken to hospital following an alleged assault at Sim Place Informal Settlement in Effingham earlier today, while a nearby tuckshop was destroyed by fire in an incident believed to be linked.
Marshall Security spokesperson Andreas Mathios said reaction officers and Greenwood Park SAPS responded to a call for assistance at the settlement at around noon.
“Additional resources made their way through after reports had come through that a foreign national had been beaten up by the local community,” Mathios said.
Marshall Security’s Special Operations Team and Community Support Team also responded to assist police.
While officers were attending to the assault, a tuckshop around the corner was reported to be on fire. According to Mathios, eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services arrived at the scene and worked to contain the blaze.
The injured man was transported to hospital by paramedics for further treatment. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.
Mathios said it was unclear whether the tuckshop belonged to the injured man. The structure was completely destroyed by the fire.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and the fire remain unclear, and further investigation is expected.
