Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole in Alexandra.

According to reports the arrests happened overnight and police are still searching for a fourth person.

The community assisted the police with information leading to the arrests of the three men after a reward of R100,000 was offered by the police.

The 35-year-old Sithole was stabbed in Alexandra on Saturday morning and later died in hospital.

Witnesses allege that the victim was a street vendor and selling cigarettes.

“Suspects approached him and took his goods without paying and thereafter an argument ensued. He was then confronted by one of the suspects who was wielding a knife.

“In the process he was stabbed and taken to the local clinic. He later died at the hospital in Johannesburg. At this stage it is not clear whether the attack may be linked to the threats against foreign nationals or it was a criminal act to rob the victim‚” said Dlamini.

Pretty Shongwa‚ a Zimbabwean‚ witnessed the attack.

“I saw him [Sithole] being stabbed and kicked by South Africans. No one did anything to help him because they also feared their lives.

"It was painful to see. I knew I had to leave the township before I was targeted‚” said Shongwe‚ who joined a group of foreign nationals from Alex seeking refuge at a camp in Mayfair at the weekend.

Residents on Second Avenue where the stabbing occurred denied knowing Sithole or his attackers.

“It does not mean that because someone was stabbed here then we are xenophobic or we know the person who was killed or his killer‚” said Moses Tshabalala.

A member of the Rhema Church‚ Naomi Molefe‚ said attacks on foreigners were motivated by jealousy.

“We all know that most of people from foreign countries are willing to work hard and those who attack them rob them‚” she said.

Omphemetse Matabane said South Africans would pay a high price for the inhuman treatment of foreigners.

“They have children who will grow up with this pain and it is scary what will happen‚” she said.

Sources: RDM News Wire, EWN, Twitter