Monday, August 28, 2006
By Karen Breytenbach
Cape Times
The Somali community of Cape Town has buried yet another one of its members after a shooting in Wesbank near Mfuleni. The outraged community believes this to be the 27th murder of a Somali in the city this month.
Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, 32, a shopkeeper in Delft, visited friends at a shop in Wesbank on Friday night and got into his car to go home at around 10pm, when four armed Xhosa-speaking men approached his host and told him not to move. He was also told to tell Ahmed not to leave. When Ahmed put this bakkie into reverse gear, the men fired four shots at him, injuring him in the chest and head.
“As the bullets went through the window, the owner of the shop ran across the road. Two employees locked themselves in the shop when they heard the shots outside. From a distance the shop owner saw the gunmen searching the car, without taking anything,” said Mohamed Khalif, a Somali elder in Bellville.
The police arrived on the scene and cordoned off the bakkie, with the dying man still in the front seat.
“He was still alive, but they did not call an ambulance. Eventually he died. His body was still there at 3am on Saturday morning. We have photos to prove it,” said Khalif.
The close-knit Somali community buried Ahmed at the Johnson Road, Athlone, cemetery on Saturday, in accordance with Muslim rites.
“Where is the United Nations High Commission for Refugees? Where is the Muslim community? Where are the government and the ministry of safety and security? Who are going to protect us? This city is supposed to be a home for all. If this country can’t protect its refugees, how will it protect the millions who will visit the city in 2010?” asked Khalif.
Police spokesperson Randall Stoffels said a case of murder was opened, robbery being the most likely motive.
Asked about the allegation that an ambulance was not called, Stoffels said: “I am not going to comment on that. I won’t confirm or deny it. All I can say is that we are investigating the murder.”
Makhaya Mani, spokesperson for Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane, could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
Source: Cape Times, Aug 28, 2006
