BOPHELONG – Sechaba Teba, a community leader in Bophelong took to Facebook a day after his companion, Thabiso Maphike was shot and left for dead.
Teba posted a 5-minute video on a Facebook group, Bophelong/Movango service delivery issues, to speak out on the ‘unfortunate’ incident that happened on Tuesday.
On the day of the incident, Maphike was at his office in the business hub when he was ambushed by two alleged assailants who opened fire, robbed him of his cell phone, and left him for dead.
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Speculations are that, Maphike’s alleged hit is linked to an ongoing turf battle focusing on the removal of foreign nationals.
In recent months, a series of events unfolded in Bophelong where the community led by a group of leaders including Maphike and Teba fought for foreign nationals to evacuate local stores and allow residents to reclaim their kasi economy.
Following Maphike’s shooting, several Bophelong social media groups went abuzz with different account holders giving their different views.
WATCH VIDEO: Sechaba Teba’s Facebook video
While some posted positive statuses on the incident, some voiced their negative opinions.
In defense of Maphike’s dignity, Teba posted the video on Wednesday, January 10, clearing the air and setting the record straight on their stern position on the fight for their economy.
“I guess we are all aware of the shooting incident to happened to Ntate Maphike. Unfortunately, some individuals are celebrating it, but I guess everyone is entitled to voice their views just like I am voicing my own now,” he said.
“What happened to Maphike is unfortunate, however, it was expected. We knew that it [the fight] was going to get here and it could have been any of us, be it me, Malankane, or any of us who are behind this thing [township economy],” he added.
Teba said the incident didn’t shake them, instead, they will continue to fight for the movement of the kasi economy.
“I’m not moved by the incident and I’m not scared. People are hiding behind fake accounts to lambast or rejoice about Maphike’s shooting, I don’t have time for this. If there are people who have issues with our initiative, they should come out and face us. No one recruited me to fight for the kasi economy, we met with the same idea and fostered the plan,” he said.
Sending a message to those targeting them, Teba said he will not stop fighting for his community no matter what happens.
“No one is going to live till eternity. We are all going to die at some point. So please continue to trash talk what we do, and rejoice about the shooting, but we are going to continue to do what we are mandated to do. We want our business space and we want to see our youth occupying those shops instead of loitering outside them. Let kasi economy burn. Whether I’m going to get killed or not, I’m not scared,” he said.
