https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao2iIcb7qJo&feature=youtu.be
A fight between shop owners and three young men broke out on Friday, 5 June on the Bult.
This after a customer, Marvin Mache (23), demanded his phone and money back.
A video clip of the fight was shared on Marvin’s facebook page this weekend where one could clearly see how one of the shop owners hit Marvin’s friend, Richuan Herbst, with a bar chair in front of the shop. The young men fought back, but took off when a shop owner threw a branch at them. A third friend of Marvin took the video. Richuan’s arm was severely bruised and he suffered broken ribs during the fight. He has since opened a case of assault with the attempt to cause grievous bodily harm against the shop owner.
According to Mache he only wanted his phone and money back because he had paid R1 600 for it to be fixed and it still wasn’t working. “Three weeks ago I took my cell phone to CPR cell and repair (CPR) in Steve Biko Street. When I fetched my phone a few days later, I had to pay R1 600. Later I realised it was still broken. I took it back and he said he would work on it again. Every time I went back, he said that it would be fixed the next day. This went on for three weeks! Two days before the incident I phoned the shop owner to tell him I want my phone on Thursday or my money back. He agreed. I only went back on Friday and was surprised when the shop owner didn’t want to give back my phone or the money,” Marvin says. He told the shop owner that he was going to phone the police shortly after the fight started.
Marvin says after his facebook post, a lot of disgruntled customers came forward who also felt they were cheated by CPR. According to him they either bought phones or did repairs that didn’t last long or weren’t returned.
The Herald went to the the shop owner for comment on the incident. He didn’t want to discuss it in detail. According to him Herbst cursed and slapped his wife before the fight broke out. He, the shop owner, also opened an assault case at the police. “We are insulted on Facebook and photographed without our consent and we are very unhappy about that,” the shop owner said.
According to Col Adéle Myburgh, North-West police spokesperson, both cases are in advanced stages of investigation by the police and will be referred to a prosecutor.
