Slain Mamelodi entrepreneur remembered
Kabelo was a friend of the poor and always fought for what's right. He could have lived anywhere in the country but he chose the township to inspire young people.
A Mamelodi social activist and entrepreneur gunned down on Saturday has been described as a champion for the poor by his closest friend.
Kabelo Mukhtar Matlala and a friend were gunned down in Luttig Street, Pretoria West and a suspect was arrested.
Matlala, a founding member of Kasi Eats and mentor to the youth in Mamelodi, preferred to live in Mamelodi to uplift his community.
One of Matlala’s friends Nazeer Osman said he was shocked by his friend’s passing.
“We met many years ago in the States (USA) and we immediately became friends,” Osman said.
“Both of us ended up moving back to South Africa. We kind of lost touch with one another but in the past few years, we became close again and we also became business partners.
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“Kabelo was a friend of the poor and always fought for what’s right. He could have lived anywhere in the country but he chose the township to inspire young people.”
Matlala has worked with reputable FMCG companies such as Massmart in South Africa and The Fresh Market in the USA.
Osman said Matlala had a business consulting firm that catered to international clients entering the African market.
“Actually, the last time we spoke was on Friday. We were supposed to meet up this week for a business meeting but unfortunately, he passed on. It’s very unfortunate that he died this way. He had so much potential and he was still getting his name out there,” he said.
Meanwhile, police confirmed a 44-year-old suspect handed himself over to the police on Monday.
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The suspect has been charged with two counts of murder, said police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo.
“It is alleged that the suspect and the victims were arguing about a title deed when the suspect took out a firearm and shot the victims on Saturday,” he said.
The suspect remained in police custody and was expected to appear again next week, for bail application.
Sanco Gauteng said it was opposed to Matlala’s alleged killer getting bail.
“Sanco in the Greater Tshwane region grieves with the community of Pretoria West after the murder of two young men in cold blood after being shot by an alleged ‘slum lord’ in the area.”
“Sanco attended the court case in which the Pakistani foreign national, Mr Khan, pleaded not guilty to the murder and cited a self-defence counter-argument,” the organisation said in a statement.
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