Xenophobic killing in South African township caught by photographer

Johannesburg (CNN)He checked the series of stills on his camera. It was then that photographer James Oatway realized the entire attack had taken less than two minutes.

It was the morning after a night of unrest in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township that saw foreign-owned shops looted and destroyed.

Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole was walking down a street when four South Africans surrounded him. Sithole pleaded for mercy, but it was already too late. The attackers bludgeoned him with a wrench, stabbed him with knives, all in broad daylight. And Oatway had captured it all on his camera.

"They looked like hardened thugs, just by their intensity, the way they moved, the expressions on their faces," Oatway told CNN. "They wanted one thing and that was to kill Emmanuel. They wanted his blood and nothing was going to stop them from doing that."

Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

The attackers eventually moved on and left Sithole alone. Oatway and fellow journalist Beauregard Tromp rushed Sithole to a hospital, where he later died.

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Local media alleged that the attacks were a consequence of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly saying at a recent gathering that foreigners "should pack their bags and go" because they are taking jobs from citizens. Later, Zwelithini said he had not called for a war on immigrants: "This war I am calling for today is to protect everyone of foreign origin in this country irrespective of which country they are from."

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

"I still remember (Sithole) looking straight into my eyes," Oatway said. "He had a kind of a dazed, shocked look in his face."

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Another photographer, Antoine de Ras, captured the moment Oatway and local authorities assisted the victim. Oatway is the one holding Sithole's belt.

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

"I'm sickened by it," Oatway said. "And I'm extremely angry, angry with the men that did this and ultimately I'm upset that our efforts weren't successful in saving Emmanuel's life."

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole, left, was walking down a street in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township when four men surrounded him on Saturday, April 18. Sithole pleaded for mercy, but it was already too late. The attackers bludgeoned him with a wrench and stabbed him with knives, killing him in broad daylight. Photographer James Oatway was nearby and captured it all on his camera.

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Oatway said he tried to get as close as possible. "When the attack started I was 20 meters away, but at one point I was four or five meters away," he said. "I did think that maybe they would leave him alone."

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Oatway's images landed on the front page of South Africa's Sunday Times under the headline, "Kill thy neighbor: Alex attack brings home SA's shame." Seven people have been killed in the latest round of xenophobic violence against poorer immigrants, many from South Africa's neighbors.

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

The attackers eventually moved on and left Sithole alone. Oatway and fellow journalist Beauregard Tromp rushed Sithole to a hospital, where he later died.

Hide Caption

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Local media alleged that the attacks were a consequence of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly saying at a recent gathering that foreigners "should pack their bags and go" because they are taking jobs from citizens. Later, Zwelithini said he had not called for a war on immigrants: "This war I am calling for today is to protect everyone of foreign origin in this country irrespective of which country they are from."

Hide Caption

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

"I still remember (Sithole) looking straight into my eyes," Oatway said. "He had a kind of a dazed, shocked look in his face."

Hide Caption

7 of 9

Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Another photographer, Antoine de Ras, captured the moment Oatway and local authorities assisted the victim. Oatway is the one holding Sithole's belt.

Hide Caption

8 of 9

Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

"I'm sickened by it," Oatway said. "And I'm extremely angry, angry with the men that did this and ultimately I'm upset that our efforts weren't successful in saving Emmanuel's life."

Hide Caption

9 of 9

Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole, left, was walking down a street in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township when four men surrounded him on Saturday, April 18. Sithole pleaded for mercy, but it was already too late. The attackers bludgeoned him with a wrench and stabbed him with knives, killing him in broad daylight. Photographer James Oatway was nearby and captured it all on his camera.

Hide Caption

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

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Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Oatway said he tried to get as close as possible. "When the attack started I was 20 meters away, but at one point I was four or five meters away," he said. "I did think that maybe they would leave him alone."

Hide Caption

3 of 9

Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

Oatway's images landed on the front page of South Africa's Sunday Times under the headline, "Kill thy neighbor: Alex attack brings home SA's shame." Seven people have been killed in the latest round of xenophobic violence against poorer immigrants, many from South Africa's neighbors.

Hide Caption

4 of 9

Xenophobic attack in South Africa 9 photos

The attackers eventually moved on and left Sithole alone. Oatway and fellow journalist Beauregard Tromp rushed Sithole to a hospital, where he later died.

Hide Caption

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Oatway says he tried to get as close as possible, conscious that the attackers were aware of his presence. "When the attack started I was 20 meters (65 feet) away, but at one point I was 4 or 5 meters away," he said. "I did think that maybe they would leave him alone."

Dazed, shocked

The attackers finally did move on and leave Sithole alone. Oatway and his fellow journalist Beauregard Tromp quickly put the injured man in the back of the car and rushed him to a hospital, where he later died.

"I still remember him looking straight into my eyes," said Oatway. "He had