Cape Town — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have requested that the manager at the Shoprite store in Ratanda be arrested after the alleged death of 33-year-old Bandile Tshabalala.
Tshabalala died after he was accused of stealing a chocolate bar. He was placed in the cold room along with another suspect and police have since opened an inquest docket.
“One of the men during closing time complained of stomach aches. Paramedics were called and he was declared dead on the scene,” Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza, said.
Community members in Ratanda are seething following the news, and EFF spokesperson, Dumisani Baleni, said Tshabalala was an unemployed adult who had lost hope in securing employment. He also called for the Shoprite manager to be held accountable, The Citizen reported.
Angry members of the community have gathered outside a Shoprite in Ratanga, Heidelburg, demanding answers after the death of a 13-year-old boy.
He was locked in a cold room overnight after they claimed he stole a bar of chocolate.#CrimeWatch pic.twitter.com/gmFG92XYfF
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 20, 2024
“While the EFF does not condone theft or lawlessness, there is absolutely no justification for the management of Shoprite to take the law into their own hands by detaining a human being in a cold freezer for hours, leading to his untimely death.” Baleni said,
“The EFF demands accountability for Mr. Tshabalala’s cruel death, particularly from the Shoprite store manager. The Shoprite store manager must be charged with murder, and all those who knew of this crime must be charged for their negligence and failure to report it,” he added.
Baleni;s views where echoed by the EFF’s Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who said the story of Tshabala’s death was painful.
“it is but an indication of the value of the lives Black people in this country. The EFF will attend to the issue of in Ratanda. Shoprite must be held accountable. But we must employ our people in order to resolved the issue of crime.” Ndlozi said on X.
Dr Mbuyiseni On the crime.
– the story the person killed in Ratanda is very painful. But it is but an indication of the value of the lives Black people in this country. The EFF will attend to the issue of in Ratanda. Shoprite must be held accountable. But we must employ our…
— EFF Gauteng (@EFFGautengProv) May 20, 2024
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Picture: X/@TheLegalSA
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
