During his speech, Zuma said Emmanuel Sithole (Real name: Emmanuel Josias) had used a false name to avoid detection because he was an illegal immigrant.

President Jacob Zuma on Monday said the Mozambican man who was killed in Alexandra two weeks ago was an illegal immigrant using a false name.

Media reports identified the man as Emmanuel Sithole after he was brutally attacked during xenophobic violence in the township a little over a week ago.

Zuma was speaking at a Freedom Day event in Pretoria earlier.

During his speech, Zuma said Sithole had used a false name to avoid detection because he was an illegal immigrant.

“Emmanuel Josias, who was identified by the media as Emmanuel Sithole, he was killed during a careless robbery in Alexandra township.” 

Meanwhile, Josias’s family says preparations to have his body returned to Mozambique are underway and a memorial service will be held in Johannesburg this Wednesday.