A second Somali national has died after succumbing to injuries following last week’s shooting at three shops in Strand.
On Saturday, 13 June, a Somali shop assistant was shot dead and three others left wounded in separate attacks on three shops in Asanda Village and Nomzamo in Strand.
It is alleged that three men went to the three winkels and opened fire without warning.
One of the three who survived has now died in the hospital.
“We are saddened by my brother’s death,” says shop owner Ali Issa.
“We need protection from the police or this will carry on.
“We cannot defend ourselves because when we shoot back, people will come and loot our shops.”
It is alleged thugs are shooting up foreign-owned shops after the owners refuse to pay protection money to gangs.
DEMAND PROTECTION: Owner Ali Issa
Lwandle SAPS station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Xolani Williams condemned the killings and says cops are offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest of the shooters: “Police offer a reward to a person who will come with positive information leading to the arrest of the wanted suspect.”
Williams says in a recent case, a 36-year-old suspect named Bulelani Tipsoni was arrested and charged with arson and extorting money from a Somali shop owner.
It is alleged that Tipsoni visited four Somali shops in Lwandle offering “security services” in exchange for monthly payments.
After the Somali shop owner refused the “offer”, the suspect set fire in four shops.
“Cases of arson were opened and investigated by Lwandle police detectives. Another charge of extortion was added as he took money from one shop owner.
“He appeared on Monday, 8 June 2020 in the Strand Magistrates’ Court.”