By Everson Luhanga
A man died after a Shoprite manager allegedly locked him inside a cold storage room on Sunday – and then left him there for 11 hours.
He was accused of stealing a chocolate bar.
Bandile Shabalala, 33, and his friend were left to freeze in a cold room at the Shoprite store in Ratanda south of Heidelberg in Gauteng.
His co-accused survived the cold temperatures and lived to tell the tale.
A neighbour and friend, Bayanda Radebe, who has known Shabalala for many years, said Shabalala’s body was found on Monday.
Shabalala’s death angered the community and hours later many residents went to the shop and threw stones at the shop and damaged its doors.
“Angry residents came out in numbers on Monday and damaged the manager’s car whom they alleged to have instructed Shabalala to be locked in the cold room.
“Residents also threw stones and damaged the shop’s doors and windows,” said Radebe.
Radebe said this is not a new incident at the shop. “There have been many other similar incidents before, where alleged thieves at the outlet get apprehended and locked up in the cold storage rooms. They then later release them after some hours.
“This is how the shop management choose to punish those suspected to have stolen from the shop.”
Radebe said Shabalala lived a painful life. He had lost both his mother and father in a space of two months. “A year later he lost his elder brother who was among seven people who were stabbed to death at a tavern. Shabalala’s brother stopped a knife-wielding man when he was stabbed to death.
“Since such incidents, Shabalala’s life was never the same,” he said.
Radebe said Shabalala had been struggling to get a job. “He used to come to me and ask if I could link him with people who could employ him. He was willing to do odd jobs for survival.”
Police spokesperson Colonel Moss Maluleke said Ratanda police have opened an inquest docket after a 33-year-old Bandile Shabalala was found dead in a cold room inside Shoprite at the Ratanda Mall.
Shoprite Holdings released a statement on Monday saying that they will work with the police on the matter.
“The allegations are seen in an extremely serious light and the necessary steps will be taken pending the outcome of a full investigation.
“We always give our full cooperation and provide all available information to the SAPS to assist their investigation.” The statement read.
Pictured above: A scene where Bandile Shabalala died in Ratanda south of Heidelberg in Gauteng.
Image source: Supplied
