No matric exam for stabbed pupil

A GRADE 12 pupil who was set to write his final paper yesterday was instead rushed to hospital on Sunday after he was stabbed, allegedly by a shop owner in the Grahamstown township of Hlalani.

Residents, in an apparent act of retaliation, toppled the owner’s delivery truck before setting it alight. The businessman has fled Hlalani.

Grahamstown police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender said the man was escorted by police to fetch his entire stock and leave the area.

“The shop owner and his workers, together with all their belongings and stock, were moved under the supervision of the police.”

Govender said cases of intimidation, assault and malicious damage to property were opened by the shopkeeper and one suspect was arrested. The suspect will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court this week.

“No case docket has yet been opened with regard to the pupil’s alleged assault,” said Govender.

Govender said a meeting was held on Sunday between the ward committee, the police, the Community Police Forum and the Eastern Cape Somalian Community Structure to restore calm in the area.

Govender said police had investigated Sunday’s incident and “it was found that the local person who was assaulted had gone to the shop with two others to assault the foreigner and in the process got assaulted”.

“The community overturned the Somalian’s bakkie and set it alight. The fire was put out by other community members. Unfortunately, due to heavy winds, it caught alight again and burnt out.”

The Dispatch understands that the pupil sustained a stab wound in the stomach.

Govender was quick to discount talk of xenophobia yesterday, saying it was an “act of criminality”.

Govender said the owner of the property secured the premises for the night but the area remained on edge. —