The victim who wished only to be named as Wednesday said, “They came in quietly at about 8.15pm. I was preparing to cash up for the day. For some reason I didn’t close up shop first. I turned my back to the door and I heard it close behind me… The next thing I knew I had a plastic bag put over my head and was restrained by having my hands held behind my back.”
According to Wednesday he heard the assailants going through his inventory. He thought that it may be a standard robbery, however he heard one of the men say, “You have a funny accent. Where are you from? We are here because you do not belong here.”
Wednesday said the men then took the bag off his head and poured a fizzy drink over his face. They took R2 500 from him and warned the shopkeeper that they would return for more money, and if he did not have the same amount they had taken, they would necklace him outside his shop.
He said one of the assailants kept calling one of his accomplices ‘Madoda’. Initially he thought that there were four or five men who broke into the shop, however another two came out from the back.
“I did not plead with the men to spare my life as I am sure they could of killed me. I would not give them that satisfaction. The men then left.”
The shopkeeper who sustained a minor injury to his left hand added, “My wife and daughter came to help me clean up the shop. The men had left a mess. I contribute to the church and pay my taxes. I do not deserve this. I am too scared to go to the police because R2 500 is a small price when it comes to my family’s safety.”
Sergeant Nurse Sanyane of the Norwood police said, “The public needs to come forward if they fall victim to crime. We are here to assist and serve the community. If the public are too scared to go to the police they can always report crime anonymously to Crime Line.”
Crime Line, SMS your anonymous tip-offs to 32211.
In your opinion, is this a xenophobic attack or criminals taking advantage of the situation? Let North Eastern Tribune know in the comments below.
