Everson Luhanga
A street vendor who used to sell cool drinks at the Imbali Taxi Rank in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal was gunned down by a security guard on Thursday.
The 30-year-old man had gone to the supermarket to order more stock when an altercation broke out with the security guard at Siyiya Cash and Carry, over a till slip.
Chaos erupted when the security guard shot the vendor, who died on the spot.
Outraged bystanders were moved to a frenzy and attempted to loot the shop, while a mob began pelting the shop and passing motorists with stones.
When police arrived at the scene, they too were pelted with stones. Officers arrested the 51-year-old at the scene and seized the firearm used in the shooting.
A video, which is in possession of Scrolla.Africa, shows the angry mob throwing stones as the police arrive at the scene.
A source at the mall told Scrolla.Africa that “when people heard the gunshots they went out seeking hiding. They saw him lying down and the security was still shooting him even when he was down.
“He died on the spot and that is what angered the community members who then started to throw stones,” said the source.
KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident. Provincial spokesperson Colonel Nqobile Gwala said: “It is alleged that a 30-year-old man was fatally shot by a security officer while at a supermarket.”
