The ANC Dullah Omar region has rubbished rumours that Shaheed Omar’s murder was politically motivated.
The 38-year-old nephew of former justice minister Dullah Omar was killed in what appears to have been an attempted hijacking on Thursday night.
Shaheed, the son of Dr Adam Omar, was travelling with his 74-year-old mother, Zubaida Omar, when he was confronted and shot at Govan Mbeki Road and Jan Smuts Drive in Lansdowne.
The ANC Dullah Omar region in Cape Town says its members are “deeply hurt” by speculation that they were behind the murder.
It comes after the family publicly asked the ANC to remove Dullah Omar’s name from both the region in the Western Cape and a march in defence of President Jacob Zuma ahead of the motion of no confidence last week.
A relative, who asked not to be named, told the Weekend Argus: “We know there have been a lot of questions around the motive behind this killing, but we do not want a frenzy of speculations even though we ourselves are asking a lot of questions.”
Shaheed Omar
Dullah Omar’s younger sister, Miriam Omar, said the shooters did not take Shaheed’s white VW Polo, even though he offered it to them.
Speaking to the Weekend Argus, she described Shaheed as a kind and generous person who loved helping others.
He had taken his mom to visit her sickly brother in Grassy Park.
“We are all devastated, it is all so unexpected and very traumatic for his mother who was with him in the car and watched her only son being shot like that,” said Miriam.
“The worst part for her was when she got out of the car and tried to flag down other cars to help her but no one stopped.
“It’s absolutely senseless. They didn’t take anything, even though he offered them the car... they just shot him and then left .”
Dullah Omar’s nephew, Shaheed Omar, was shot and killed by hijackers at the corner of Jan Smuts Drive and Govan Mbeki Road. Picture: LEON KNIPE
ANC Dullah Omar region spokesperson Khaya Yozi condemned the speculation that they had something to do with Shaheed’s death.
“Shame on those people who say this murder is politically motivated. There is no leader in the Dullah Omar region that would orchestrate a murder in response to what the family has said regarding the party. We reject these rumours it’s untrue,” Yozi says.
He said the region was still waiting for guidance from the national executive committee regarding removing Dullah Omar’s name.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, said no arrests have been made and that a murder investigation was still ongoing.