Murder sparks outrage in Kwa-Thema

Kwa-Thema residents are up in arms after the death of a crane driver in Brakpan on Thursday night.

The man was killed after he helped residents remove shipping containers belonging to foreign nationals.

The containers were used as tuckshops before the shop owners were banished.

“The crane was paid for by donations collected since last November. This guy was just a driver for the company we hired to do the work,” explained community leader Tshepo Mwelase.

Mwelase said a resolution to remove the containers was reached to deter the shop owners from returning.
The containers were moved to open spaces in the neighbourhood.

The group hopes the metro will feel pressured to move the containers eventually.

Mwelase also said the group would not remove any containers belonging to locals.

“We managed to remove three containers, and now we cannot move forward because an innocent life has been cut short,” he added.

Mwelase believes the SAPS could have done more to protect the residents and the murder victim.

“There has been unrest since Thursday night, and we will not stop until there is justice for the victim and his family. We are willing to picket at the Kwa-Thema Police Station until they do something,” he said.

The angry group also disrupted traffic on the N17 soon after the incident.

The road was closed until Friday morning when the SAPS and EMPD restored calm.

Brakpan SAPS Sector 1 manager and communications officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi confirmed that a man was shot and killed on the Ergo on-ramp, and the vehicle in which he was travelling was torched.