Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)

Omar family mourn loss of Shaheed in hijacking

Kin deny any political motivation

- WEEKEND ARGUS REPORTER

TRAGEDY has struck the Omar family.

They buried Shaheed Omar, nephew of anti-apartheid Struggle leader Dullah Omar, yesterday, after he was shot dead at a busy intersecti­on in Lansdowne on Thursday night. Police spokespers­on FC van Wyk said a murder investigat­ion was under way. Sources close to the family said Omar, 44, and his mother, Subeida, were returning from visiting a sick relative on Thursday. At around 8.30pm he had slowed down at the corner of Govan Mbeki Road and Jan Smuts Drive, on the way to his home in Mabel Road, Rylands Estate, when he was approached by a man in the go-slow area where roadworks are under way.

Omar had opened the door of his car when the man fired shots at him. He was reportedly shot in the chest at point-blank range in front of his mother.

The family source said they did not believe the shooting was politicall­y motivated, following the withdrawal of the Omar name from the ANC’s Cape Metro branch where the ANC Youth League had marched in support of President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, during the motion of no-confidence vote.

The family believed the shooting was criminally motivated and that Omar had attempted to shield his mother by stepping out of the car and trying to reason with the gunman. The grieving family held his funeral service at the Mountview Mosque, presided over by prominent members of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC).

Omar was buried at the Pooke Road cemetery.

Yesterday, Omar’s colleagues at Old Mutual, where he worked as an investment specialist, were in mourning for a man many described as well-respected, wellliked, reliable and hard-working.

Speaking on behalf of the Mandela family, Chief Zwelivelil­e Mandlesizw­e Dalibhunga Mandela condemned the murder which he said had greatly shocked and saddened them.

On behalf of the Royal House of Mandela, the Mvezo Traditiona­l Council, and his family, “we wish to convey our heartfelt condolence­s to the Omar family”, he said.

“The killing fields of Cape Town are cause for great concern. We call on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to work together with their provincial and local

 ??  ?? Dullah Omar’s nephew, Shaheed Omar, was shot and killed by hijackers at the corner of Jan Smuts Drive and Govan Mbeki Road.
Dullah Omar’s nephew, Shaheed Omar, was shot and killed by hijackers at the corner of Jan Smuts Drive and Govan Mbeki Road.
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 ??  ?? Mandla Mandela
Mandla Mandela

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