‘Fake goods’ spark looting
Two die in spaza violence as Soweto residents go on rampage Foreign-owned shops targeted over ‘expired’ food
Soweto was hit by riots on Wednesday that left two people dead while one was taken to hospital after he was shot and injured when foreign-owned shops were looted amid allegations that they were selling expired food and items with counterfeit labels.
Colonel Lungelo Dlamini told Sowetan on Wednesday night that one person was killed in White City while the other died in Mofolo.
“One was shot while the other one had a stab wound‚” Dlamini said.
He said 15 people were arrested following the riots that hit different parts of the township. “One person was arrested for murder, another one for attempted murder, one for possession of an unlicensed firearm and 12 for public violence,” said Dlamini.
Banele Qhayiso, 23, was allegedly shot and killed in White City by a foreign shop owner after angry residents went on the rampage.
The victim was not one of the looters but a paying customer‚ said his brother Mandlekosi Qhayiso.
“He left the house in the morning saying he was going to buy bread and snuff. Community members came in‚ wanting to do this thing of theirs of looting but unfortunately Banele was inside [the tuck shop]. The next thing a shot was fired and moments later‚ I was called and told Banele had been shot.
“When I got there‚ Banele was lying by the gate of some house ... He was still alive but could no longer speak. He died in my arms.”
Banele was the last child in the family of five. Their parents are deceased.
“He was going to graduate on September 19‚” Mandlekosi said. “He had been studying mechanical engineering [at Rosebank College]. He was the only one who was educated.”
Hours after Banele was killed‚ looters continued to empty the shop and made off with bags of mealie meal‚ flour‚ cold drinks‚ nappies and sugar. Even the fridges and shelves were removed.
“We are doing this for Banele! They came here to kill our children. They must go‚” one community member carrying plastic bags full of goods shouted.
Mandlekosi‚ however‚ rejected the crowd’s declaration of looting in Banele’s name. “I am angry with them because this whole thing with Pakistan people doesn’t make sense to me. “They shouldn’t say they are doing this for us ... They are doing all of this for themselves. I lost my brother because of them.”
Dlamini could not confirm how many shops were looted on Wednesday‚ but said they were all owned by foreigners.
In Mofolo Village, Thulani Tshabalala, 26, was also stabbed to death. Captain Mpande Khoza said Thulani went to the foreign-owned shop and allegedly attempted to loot.
Khoza said there were two foreign shop owners inside. “One foreign national allegedly stabbed the deceased.
“The deceased tried to flee by jumping over the wall of a nearby house. He collapsed and died in the yard.”
He said the two foreign shop owners were arrested.
Thulani’s mother Nosisi said she last saw her unemployed son three days ago as they did not live in the same house.
“I just knew that something was wrong today … but I never thought I would see my son’s lifeless body.”
Nosisi said she heard that foreign-owned shops would be attacked but did not think her son would be a victim.
Dlamini said the situation was quiet on Wednesday night after more police were deployed to the area. –