Foreign-owned Spaza shop burned down
“We were confronted by six men who were heavily armed with guns and pangas."
SHARPEVILLE. – “This is pure criminal, this is not about xenophobia.”
These words were uttered by a Kensington, Sharpeville landlord after his foreign tenant’s container that is used as a tuck-shop named Customer Care Supermarket was burned down in the early hours this morning, Thursday.
According to the shop owner, who gave his name as Nathi Mule (30), he was woken up by a noise, outside the container, of people were calling for him to open the side door of his container at around 1:00 . When they saw that he was hesitant and refusing to open, they tried to gain entry by hitting the steel door with a block of cement.
When the door failed to open, they the poured petrol through a key hole on the side door and lit it. The burning container forced Mule to open the main door of the tuck-shop and that is when he was attacked with pangas. He has sustained injuries on his hands and knees. Mule’s landlord, who refused to identify himself, said he was woken up by Mule calling out for help.
He (the landlord) is grateful to neighbours who came out to help put out the fire.
“We were confronted by six men who were heavily armed with guns and pangas. Shots were fired but fortunately no one was killed,” the landlord said.
Mule is thankful that his life was spared. He is unable say what the attackers had managed to take from the burning shop, as he escaped with only the clothes he was wearing.
Community members told Sedibeng Ster Mule is very helpful in the community.
“We have never had any problems with him, he is a people’s person. We have never had any expired food from this shop. Why did they have to do this?” the residents asked.
Police spokesperson Constable Busisiwe Sango confirmed the incident and investigations are ongoing.
