SA’s African community to form working group following spate of violence and stabbing murder

The state’s African community is forming a working group in a bid to prevent further violence within a small group of their young people.

A working group is being formed in South Australia’s African community in a bid to understand the behaviour of a minority of violent youths and prevent further incidents.

Chairman of the African Community Council of South Australia Denis Yengi said his community was devastated by recent violent events linked to people of Sudanese heritage.

Police said tensions between two feuding gangs led to the fatal stabbing of a 25-year-old Victorian man in Adelaide’s CBD on Monday morning linked to Operation Meld.

The operation was created in July last year after a spate of violence sparked by feuding youths of Sudanese heritage in Adelaide’s north and northwest.

A 17-year-old Victorian teen has been arrested and charged with murder, and 17 others were arrested for other offences involved in the incident on Monday.

“At this particular time, my heart and prayers are with the family of the deceased, it’s a very difficult thing for the community, because this is not something we want to see in our streets,” Mr Yengi said.

Denis Yengi is the chairman of the African Communities Council SA. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“The law abiding African South Australians are very upset about this act of violence, because it’s not part of our culture, and we do not condone it.”

Mr Yengi said the people involved in the incidents linked to crimes being investigated by Operation Meld are a very small minority of the African community.

“The fact that they are more likely to be identified because of their colour, the way they look is what’s making it an African issue, but the reality is it’s really an issue that affects all South Australians,” he said.

“The African community is not shying away by saying it’s not our problem … because the foundation of the African community is based on respect and on looking after one another.”

Four men were arrested after a man was stabbed to death in Adelaide's CBD. Picture: Dixie Sulda

The working group is in the process of being formed and is hoped to involve people within the African community including youths, parents, leaders, as well as police.

“One consultation with everyone in a room is not going to be enough, to really understand the complexities of some of the challenges that are facing these young people,” he said.

“This is only very few people, it’s not an issue that reflects the entire South Sudanese or African community.

“But it doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny problem, we wanted to look at it, and really understand properly, and try to fix it if we can.”

Chief executive officer of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre in Adelaide, Eugenia Tsoulis, said she was saddened at the recent spate of violence.

“I’m saddened by this, (the African community) is a large community that has contributed immensely to our SA family,” Ms Tsoulis said.

Four men were arrested after a man was stabbed to death in Adelaide's CBD. Picture: Simon Cross