Foreign-owned spaza shops shut

Alleged assault of local man leads to retaliation, looting

Foreign-owned shops in Deelpan village, North West, have been shut after a day of looting by angry residents who want an owner to face the might of the law for allegedly assaulting a customer.

A 14-year-old boy. Tumisang Mafulako, was caught in the crossfire when villagers and a group of Ethiopian nationals clashed on Sunday. He was hit with a bottle on the forehead while returning from the shop.

According to his aunt Reginah Riet, Tumisang had been sent to buy bread when he came across angry villagers who were throwing stones at a vehicle carrying Ethiopian nationals. One of the occupants allegedly threw an empty bottle which hit Tumisang on the forehead. He was taken to the local hospital from where he was discharged yesterday.

The fight was sparked by a shop owner who allegedly refused to give a customer his change after he had bought paraffin. The two argued until the shop owner allegedly assaulted customer Kabelo Letsholo with grass shears.

Letsholo was allegedly left in a pool of blood. Angry residents then looted the Ethiopian’s shop in retaliation.

Yesterday, villagers held a meeting with police and a local councillor to resolve their issues. “They want to kill us in our own village, they are disrespectful and think that we are illiterate,” said Lucky Femele.

Villagers said police arrested the shop owner on Sunday night but on Monday they saw him driving around the village.

Councillor Thabo Radebe said the shop owner had since been re-arrested.

Police said the shop owner would appear at the Itsoseng Magistrate’s Court today.

Residents have threatened to burn down all foreign-owned shops in the village if the suspect is granted bail.