By Doreen Mokgolo
Residents of Kwa-Thema on the East Rand have blocked all the main entrances to the township with burning tyres and rocks, and are demanding a shutdown in the township and neighbouring areas.
This comes after residents vowed to get justice for a slain crane driver they had hired to remove containers used as shops by foreign nationals.
Vincent Malope was shot and killed on Thursday night after spending the day in Kwa-Thema to remove two of the containers.
The truck he was travelling in was set alight by the attackers.
The residents’ campaign against foreign nationals in the township started in October, when expired and fake foods were found on display in some of the stores. It was alleged that some people had fallen ill after eating the food.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, resident Tshepo Nkosi, who was with the driver when he was shot, said he was traumatised and haunted by Malope’s last words to him.
“He was shot in his upper body and struggled to walk to safety. Fearing for his life I moved him out of the truck.
“[But] the suspects returned … and started shooting again. He pleaded with me to run to safety – ‘mfowethu run, these people want to kill us’.”
Malope’s body was found by police in long grass at the bottom of a bridge.
“He didn’t deserve to die like that; if they wanted to kill people they should have targeted the residents of Kwa-Thema behind the campaign,” Tshepo said.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed police are investigating a case of murder and malicious property damage.
“No suspect has been arrested so far,” she said.
Pictured above: Kwa-Thema is on fire.
Picture source: Doreen Mokgolo
