CRIME HAUNTS VILAKAZI STREET
Sakhumzi murder latest in series of attacks
THE management of Sakhumzi Restaurant in Soweto has called for beefed up security along the famous Vilakazi Street following the murder of its manager.
The 60-year-old man died in a hail of bullets at the popular eatery during an attempted robbery just after midnight on Sunday.
Sakhumzi marketing manager Archie Tsoku said this was the second hit on the restaurant in recent months. He asked the media not to name the manager as yet.
When Sowetan visited the area yesterday, Sakhumzi was open but the other eateries nearby were closed. Management wouldn’t let the media speak to workers.
Of the security in the area Tsoku said: “It wasn’t the first time. The first robbery happened ... in late November, early December. On that day, they came on time when we hadn’t really locked the building, so they managed to get some money.
“This time they were not so lucky. But there have been incidents on Vilakazi Street ... since October... Different venues [and] establishments have been robbed.
“We are seeing an escalation,” Tsoku said.
He said they believed there was a syndicate operating in the area.
“Noticing that we have been very relaxed about security.
“We have never been a high security area. There was never [a] need for that. There should be a big discussion between businesses on Vilakazi and the police.
“We hope the tourism minister [Derek Hanekom] takes charge as well because the safety of visitors in this street is important.”
Tsoku said they had suspected “an inside job or pure luck after the first robbery”.
“It wasn’t as highly organised as this one seemed and as violent as this one seemed,” he said.
Gauteng police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubele said the manager was shot several times and died on the scene.
“A manhunt for the robbers has been launched. Police are investigating a case of murder and armed robbery,” Makhubele said.
Tsoku said the robbers, pretending to be customers, came when the restaurant was closed at the time.
“The manager was sitting outside here ... with the staff, waiting for a bus to transport them home. I think they (robbers) are familiar with the area because they walked ... towards the door...
“They discovered [that] it was locked, then one of them pulled out a gun and shot him... We believe because the place was locked, they were frustrated...”
He said the restaurant would continue operating as normal.
“We have to keep doors open. Our business is important. If we shut down, we are sending a wrong signal that it is not safe. Besides, we get bookings even a year in advance from as far as Japan or Iceland.
“That is why I am saying that the tourism minister is our key partner in helping us to get the security cluster to act.
“If we can get security for Mandela Bridge 24 hours [a day]... what is wrong with securing Vilakazi Street?” asked Tsoku.
“We don’t have to burn tyres... to request security.
Proudly SA chief executive Eustace Mashimbye has sent condolences to the deceased’s family and the restaurant.
“Not only do we mourn the loss of the restaurant’s manager but we regret that this crime has the potential to do untold damage to this and other tourist sites in Soweto and other townships,” Mashimbye said.
He urged South Africans to continue to show their support for the restaurant by “not letting this crime deter them from enjoying the great food and atmosphere for which it is so well known”.
“This crime has the potential to do damage to tourist sites in Soweto