Gang who robbed shop may have killed Somali
By Luvuyo Mjekula
Monday, January 25, 2010
A Somali national says a gang who admitted robbing his shop but were not arrested might be the same people who burnt it down, killing his brother and seriously injuring his cousin.
Ismail Bashir, 17, was killed and his 22-year-old cousin Salad Abdi seriously injured when the shop in Nyanga was set alight on Thursday afternoon.
Ismail's brother, Dahir, said he believed the people who attacked Ismail and his cousin might be those who stole money, airtime and cellphones from the shop on Monday.
'There is no such thing as a minor case'
Dahir said the police had not arrested them even though they had been identified by residents. He had gone to open a case at the Nyanga police station but been told it was "a minor incident".
He said R1 600 in cash, airtime worth R1 800, two cellphones and two cases of cooldrinks had been stolen.
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said: "There is no such thing as a minor case. If the allegations are true, disciplinary action will be taken against the officer."
Lwandle Street residents apparently pointed out the suspects, and their parents undertook to refund the Somalis.
Local resident Mandisa Dyonki confirmed the robbery and said residents had held a meeting on Tuesday and identified three boys as the perpetrators. Their parents had each agreed to pay the Somalis R1 375 for the stolen items.
Two days after the robbery, the shop, in Dyonki's front yard, was set alight. Dyonki said the neighbours put out the fire but Bashir was already dead.
Dahir said Abdi was in Tygerberg Hospital.
Dyonki said the Somalis were good tenants and were accepted by the community.
• Somalis forced out of Riviersonderend after their shops were destroyed and looted two weeks ago are still living in a municipal shed.
In De Doorns, thousands of Zimbabwean refugees driven out of Stofland informal settlement remain in tents at a local sports ground.