Buziwe Nocuze
Siphamandla Vuku walked into a liquor store eating an orange, a crime for which he was beaten to within an inch of his life.
The 34-year-old from Philippi Browns Farm in Cape Town was allegedly assaulted by security guards from the store and dumped in the bush to die.
Vuku says he bought an orange on his way to the liquor store at a local mall on Friday.
“I started eating it and passed the security guard at the door of the liquor store but he didn’t say anything,” said Vuku.
“As I was looking at the liquor prices he came charging at me. He asked me why I was eating the orange inside the shop.”
Vuku said seeing as he had passed the guard at the entrance he didn’t think he was breaking any rules. He said he told the guard that he thought they were letting him pass because they weren’t selling oranges.
To his surprise the guard allegedly started assaulting him, soon he called for backup and more security personnel arrived and joined in the beating.
Vuku told Scrolla.Africa they took him to the back of the shop where they asked him if he had a gun.
“I told them I didn’t and even if I had one, they should’ve found it because they handcuffed me while they were beating me up,” he said.
They then drove with him to the bushes next to Lansdowne Road, where they dumped him.
He was left with swollen knees and ankles.
He believes they dumped him there to die alone.
He wants the guards to explain the real reason behind his attack.
Captain Frederick Van Wyk said Nyanga police registered a common assault case after a 34-year-old man was assaulted at a store in Philippi. The investigation continues and no arrests have been made.
