Over two hundred Somali traders in South Africa have downed their to protest against killings of colleagues in Nelson Mandela Bay.
For the last five days, at least five Somali traders were killed by unknown South African armed men.
The protesting shopkeepers marched down Durban and Standford roads in Korsten, Port Elizabeth. They forcefully shut two shops they found open in Durban Road.
They waved placards saying: “Stop killing us fellow Africans.”
Mohamed said: “We are killed and robbed every day because we are not prepared to pay the protection fee.
“The police fail to protect us and communities are also exploiting us. If we ask for protection from the communities where we do our businesses, the community leaders also expect us to pay them.”
According to Said Mohamed, chairperson of the Somali Association, Hussein Ibrahim was killed on Monday in Mavavana Street in KwaZakhele and the perpetrators sped off with his bakkie full of stock.
Abdi Hakin Jelle and Mikail Pito were both killed on Friday in Vuku Street in New Brighton. Abdunasir Abukar was shot and killed in KwaNobuhle in Uitenhage on Friday.
In another incident on Friday, a 38-year-old shop owner was fatally shot and his assistant wounded when they were robbed at about 11:30am in Khama Street, KwaNobuhle.
Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu confirmed the killings. “Two people were shot dead in their shop in Vuku Street in New Brighton on Friday. It is alleged that at about 7:30pm, the two victims aged between 23 and 25 years old were inside the shop when two suspects entered and shot both of them. One victim passed away at the scene while the other passed away on the way to hospital. Groceries, cigarettes and cash were taken.”
Naidu said, “It is alleged that the shop owner was busy offloading stock for his shop when three armed men approached him. The suspects ordered the owner to open his shop.
A fight broke out between the owner and the suspects which resulted in his fatal killing. On hearing the shots, his assistant rushed out and was also shot. He was admitted to a local hospital. Cash and groceries were taken. The bakkie was recovered not far from the scene.”