eMBALENHLE – A Somali shop owner narrowly escaped death after his shop was set alight on Friday, 9 December in Extension 15.
Mr Nuur Muuke was in his shop at about 8am when three unknown men came into his shop and greeted him.
He alleged two of them were Ethopians and one was a South African and that as he was attending to them when two of the men began to pour paraffin through a security steel frame, burglar proofing, all over the shop.
He said as he was in a state of confusion as one of them set alight the shop and they fled the scene.
Mr Muuke screamed for help as he was trying to open the door to escape and his clothes caught fire.
He eventually managed to open the door, but to his surprise a group of about six men pushed him back into the shop.
They allegedly entered the shop and began to loot it.
“I continued to scream for help and neighbours heard me.
“The six men fled the scene and the neighbors helped me to extinguish the fire.
“The flames were so big, my clothes were on fire and I thought it was my last day on earth.”
According to Mr Abdola Mohamoud, chairman of the Somali community in Mpumalanga, this was the first time that one of their members was attacked.
He boldly said the people who did this are Ethiopians.
He said they are always attacking them and that the use they the police and the municipality to intimidate them.
“We opened a case on Friday, but until today nothing has been done.
“We did not even receive an sms that confirms the police are busy with our case.
“We went to the police station where an officer said he could not speak to us because we do not speak English.
“We do not know what to do.”
The residents who helped Mr Muuke to escape and to extinguish the fire, are convinced an Ethiopian shop owner was involved.
They alleged the Ethiopians have intimidated every Somali shop owner who has rented the burnt shop.
“We do not want that guy in our community.
“He must go back or otherwise he will be in trouble, they are foreigners and must not come here to kill each other.
“We will not allow it in our country,” said a resident.
The residents urged the landlord of the suspected Ethiopian shop owner to evict him or else they will burn his house.
They said they do not trust the police anymore, because they are friends with the Ethiopians.
Ms Elizabeth Mtsweni, landlord of the Somali shop, fears for her life because the community is threatening to burn down her house.
“I am going to go the police and if I do not get help, the tenant must unfortunately vacate the building.”
However the Ethopian shop owner suspected of burning the shop, distanced himself from the allegation and said he was at his shop when the incident happened.
He heard about the allegation, but does not know anything about the fire.
