• A man accused of demanding protection money petrol bombed a foreign national’s shop in Lower Crossroads on Friday after the owner refused to pay him.
• Police found the suspect’s body with gunshot wounds to his upper body, face and arm a few metres from the burning shop. No arrests have been made.
A man said to be an extortionist burnt down a shop in Philippi East, Cape Town, after the owner refused to give him money.
Moments later, he was found shot dead near the scene.
The attack happened on Friday in Lower Crossroads. The shop belongs to a foreign national who had recently taken over the business.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the man had visited the shop two days earlier.
“I heard that he demanded protection money but he was told to come the following day which was Friday to talk to the new owner. When he arrived he demanded the money but he did not get it and he decided to petrol bomb the shop, burning everything that was inside. Luckily no one was injured,” she said.
The flames destroyed goods inside the shop. No one was hurt during the fire.
The resident said she was confused about what happened next.
“It is confusing on who shot him because he was here alone, and how did the person who shot him come from. But as long as he died doing crime then it’s safe, right? Maybe this will send a message to everyone who think crime is the solution. We all work hard to get money; we are not expecting anyone to give us money for free,” she said.
She said she does not believe the man had a gun.
“If he had a gun he could’ve killed the shop owner and it is clear that he didn’t have a gun. He might be new to this extortion thing because he’s the first person to petrol bomb a shop after not getting the money he demanded.”
Western Cape South African Police Service spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said Philippi East police registered cases of murder and arson.
“The police responded to a complaint and on arrival they found a shop in flames. According to reports, an unknown man came to the store demanding money from the new owner. When the shopkeeper refused, the deceased threw a petrol bomb inside the shop and fled on foot,” said Gwala.
Police later found his body a few metres away. He had gunshot wounds to his upper body, face and arm.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. No arrest has been made yet.”
Pictured above: The burnt shop in Lower Crossroads pictured above after it was petrol bombed.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
