Soweto residents in Diepkloof are up in arms after the brutal murder of a 28-year-old man.
The residents believe the man was shot by a Mozambican national and have since retaliated by breaking down foreign national-owned stores in the area and burning tyres in the road.
On Wednesday at about 4am, Diepkloof SAPS spokesperson, Captain Phephi Matlou-Mteto, confirmed that two young men were sitting in an abandoned vehicle near the Bareni taxi rank when a man approached them and started shooting at them.
She said that according to an eyewitness, the firearm did not go off because it was not loaded and the man walking away.
“But the man later returned and shot at the two men, causing the death of one of them. We have no information about who the (gunman) was. The only information we have is from the eyewitness, who is the friend of the man who was shot and was with him in the car,” said Matlou-Mteto.
She couldn’t confirm whether the suspect was a Mozambican national and urged those who had any information to come forward.
Diepkloof community leader Zandile Dabula says the family of the dead man was heartbroken to have lost their son in this way.
She said that the community was flooded with young people who are hooked on drugs such as nyaope which is believed to be sold by foreign nationals in the area.
“Our young people are dying. As Soweto we need to rise up and put a stop to these undocumented nationals who are killing and selling drugs to our young people. There is no time to sit back and wait. The time is now,” said Dabula.
A video was circulating on social media showing residents breaking down street vendors’ stores in parts of Zone 3 and 4 in Diepkloof. The stores are believed to be owned by foreign nationals.
Dabula said the community is demanding that the foreign nationals leave the area in order to prevent more of their young people dying.
“Everything that is happening around here is illegal. The undocumented nationals are causing more harm than good. They are not only taking our jobs, but they are also stealing from us. This murder was not the first incident. We will continue to close their stores,” said Dabula.