The 46-year-old Chinese national who is facing charges of murder and attempted murder will appear in the Regional Court on December 4 to give police time to continue with their investigation.
The charges arising from the so-called ‘Umbrella Murder’ were the murder of Sonnyboy Zeze Mtshali (36), who was shot dead by the Chinese shopkeeper at the taxi rank on September 21, following a quarrel over an umbrella that Mr Mtshali had bought from the shop.
Mr Mtshali returned the umbrella after claiming it no longer worked. An argument ensued between the suspect’s wife, son and Mr Mtshali.
When they refused to replace the umbrella, Mr Mtshali took another one from the shop.
Both mother and son were assaulted by Mr Mtshali, who hit them with a mop that was lying in the shop.
At that point, the shopowner returned and tried to intervene. He too was assaulted, and he drew a firearm and shot Mr Mtshali twice in the chest and stomach. He died on the scene.
One of the bullets also hit Siyabonga Magubane (25), a taxi driver who was standing outside the shop.
A crowd of angry on-lookers gathered around the shop. Police arrived shortly afterwards to disperse the crowd and arrest the shopkeeper, who is yet to plead.