Ward 89 councillor Amanda Forsythe said the death of a Melville bartender could have been avoided, but lack of law enforcement by the police, Joburg City officials and the Gauteng Liquor Board made it inevitable.
The Ghanaian national was allegedly stabbed on 17 August by a family member (51) who was also his employer at one of the suspect’s businesses, Wee-Pub and Restaurant, in Melville.
Brixton Police Station Commander, Colonel Michelle Jones said the suspect, who can’t be identified, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 18 August, facing a murder charge, but she could not comment further.
The Gauteng Police spokesman Lieutenant Kay Makhubele confirmed the suspect and the deceased were cousins.
He said, “The murder took place on 15 August, the suspect was arrested in his house on 18 August.” Forsythe added, “This is a tragedy for the victim’s family, but also for Melville.”
According to Forsythe, authorities seem to be unwilling to follow up on complaints sent through by residents or her, because she personally complained to law enforcers about the establishment not being up to standard, but it ended up nowhere.
“If we’re lucky, we get the occasional raid or inspection and then nothing,” she said.
Forsythe added that not only the authorities are at fault, but also businesses, their patrons and even local residents have developed a disregard for the law.
“People don’t understand how breaking seemingly unimportant bylaws leads to more serious crimes being committed. When a culture of lawlessness is created, it’s only a matter of time before something really bad happens”.
Forsythe cites other examples of serious crime that resulted from establishments that were repeatedly allowed to flout the law, like – the murder of Pirates rugby player, Thulane Popoyi, at Dollar Table in 7th Street last year and the recent alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Greenside.
According to eyewitnesses, and argument started between the suspect and victim prior to the victim’s death.
“We couldn’t get it clear what they were arguing about because they argued in one of the Ghanaian languages. The uncle [suspect] stood up, grabbed a bottle of beer and hit the deceased on the neck. He was bleeding but managed to stand up and went outside where he sat by the entrance, still crying, his uncle [suspect] followed and hit him again,” said one eyewitness.
“A Tuk-tuk driver tried to help the man by physically carrying him, but just a few metres away, the suspect stopped them and called a meter taxi to transport him to hospital,” said the witness.
The man died in hospital hours later.
Related stories: Thulani Popoyi hacked to death in Melville
