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太猖獗！四名劫匪持斧头抢劫奥克兰加油站，员工差点爆头而亡_我的网站

A |     Editor's Note: 
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
    

    The aerial view of Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: VCG
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
         The author takes a photo with Babalwa Lobishe, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor and ANC regional chairperson. Photo: Courtesy of He Yue
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it. 
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice. 
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.

         At a Freedom Day commemoration, participants use song and rhythm to express political memory and labor solidarity. Photo: Courtesy of He YueA moment of presence
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。    Danielle 编译          昨天，四名蒙面罪犯手持锤子袭击奥克兰加油站店员的报道引发社会关注，今天，案件的更多细节浮出水面，令社区担忧。         Advertise with us          据英文《先驱报》报道，周日（1月21日）凌晨，奥克兰南区Papatoetoe的一个加油站遭遇袭击，一群挥舞着锤子的劫匪袭击了加油站工作人员，也是一位著名的社区领袖。              员工遭殴打，被斧头劈中          当天早上6点，55岁的Ghouse Majeed刚刚打开位于Cavendish Drive的Mobil加油站大门，等待另一名工作人员上班，然后回家。         “突然，四个人冲进店里，开始对我大喊大叫。”          监控录像显示，蒙面劫匪进入加油站店铺后，跳过柜台，将电子烟、香烟和现金装在一个橙色的桶里。

B |          其中一名罪犯似乎用言语恐吓了Majeed，然后挥拳打了他的脸。

C |          他们还要求Majeed打开保险箱，里面装有数百纽币现金。他说自己不知道密码，随后四人开始殴打他。         Majeed试图跑出商店，但另一个手持锤子的蒙面劫匪守在门口。“他朝我走来，试图用锤子砸我的头，但没打中，砸到了我的肋骨。

D | ”          Majeed被劫匪抓住，但他设法逃到了后面的办公室。劫匪们又在办公室殴打他，他的肋骨和手腕受伤了。

E |          “我试图踢他们，最后把他们赶出了办公室，然后锁上门报了警，”他说。              劫匪尚未被抓捕          警方发言人证实，他们接到报警后于早上6点16分到达加油站。         “四名男子袭击了一名工作人员，然后拿走了物品并离开了场所。

F | ”“我们已经找到了一辆被盗的车辆，据信这是一起抢劫案。”犯罪分子尚未找到，调查仍在进行中。

G |               “以为今天会死去”          当天，Majeed住进Middlemore医院，当天晚些时候出院。“由于剧烈的疼痛和肿胀，我仍然无法动弹，必须有人帮我坐起来，”Majeed说。         Majeed说，如果他的头被斧头击中，他可能会当场死亡。“这一切发生得太突然了，我很震惊。我以为今天是我死去的日子。”          Majeed是非营利组织MATA协会的秘书长，在过去的20多年里帮助了成千上万的移民和少数民族社区。         他说：“像我这样的社区领袖都会遭到袭击，可想而知新西兰普通人的命运会怎样？”          Majeed说，他经常讨论奥克兰南区猖獗的零售犯罪，但从未想过自己会成为受害者。         “罪犯心里一点也不害怕，他们不关心犯罪的后果，”他说。              企业主请求恢复社会秩序          周日早上在医院时，Majeed向零售商家组织的主席Sunny Kaushal讲述了他的痛苦经历。         Kaushal说：“抢劫变得越来越暴力，这些罪犯根本不尊重他人的权利，”“他们不尊重他人，不尊重法律，不尊重警察及法律后果。

H | ”          “零售员工去上班时，他们不知道自己是否能安全回家，是否会被打进医院，或者是否能再次见到家人。”          Kaushal说，政府需要确保“这些罪犯不再掠夺社区和企业主。他已经写信给三位联合政府领导人和新任警察部长，恳求他们采取紧急行动，帮助遏制犯罪浪潮。

I | “现在整个国家都在关注他们，我们希望看到果断的行动。”“我们希望法律和秩序能得到修复，不再像过去六年那样让人恐惧。”                    相关阅读：          四名蒙面罪犯手持锤子袭击奥克兰加油站店员，行业组织恳求政府紧急行动          奥克兰高峰时段发生激烈追逐：逃逸车辆逆行险象环生，两人被捕          奥克兰北岸大超市清晨被抢：警方出动直升机和警犬队追捕，4人被拘          700棵蓝莓树被偷摘，价值5万纽币的青铜雕塑被破坏          奥克兰发生激烈群殴事件，武装警察包围了一栋房屋，一男子被捕          一名男子遭恶性袭击，被抛下码头并按在水下，警方急寻目击者          奥克兰新年夜枪杀案：两人中枪一人身亡，凶杀案调查已展开          奥克兰Avondale发生大火，80名消防员和21辆消防车参与灭火          注：本文为编译/原创，欢迎转发分享；但严禁复制等未经授权的非法使用。违反上述声明者，本网将追究其相关法律责任。使用授权请联系[email protected]。         chineseherald.co.nz All Rights Reserved 版权所有          (责编：丹妮)          来源 -          相关内容                奥克兰的渡轮最近被大量延误和取消，为什么？           四名蒙面罪犯手持锤子袭击奥克兰加油站店员，行业组织恳求政府紧急行动           奥克兰Muriwai发生悲剧，皮卡翻车后压死一名少女，居民呼吁海滩禁车           好热！奥克兰迎来史上第五高温日，全国气温本周将骤降           毛利国王召集的全国大会明天将举行，总理确认不会参加           最新天气：奥克兰持续闷热，基督城高温将至，这个地区或遭遇大洪水           奥克兰高峰时段发生激烈追逐：逃逸车辆逆行险象环生，两人被捕           总理在今年第一次讲话中指明政府的方向：“要扭转混乱的局面”。

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