A TUCK shop owner died after he was allegedly hit multiple times on the head with a hammer, during a robbery at his shop in Kathu in the Northern Cape, last Tuesday.
Mohammed Ferazi, 31, a Bangladeshi national, sustained severe injuries to his head and back.
The brutal attack was caught on CCTV cameras inside the shop, and has since gone viral on social media.
In the video, Ferazi is seen standing inside the shop. One suspect is seen standing outside the shop and another at the entrance of the tuckshop.
As Ferazi walked to the back of the shop, the second suspects entered the store.
He pulled out a hammer from the back of his pants and hit Ferazi on his head.
Ferazi fell to the floor and the suspect continued to hit him with the hammer, more than six times. The second suspect looks up at the camera. As he is getting ready to exit the shop, he sees Ferazi moving and goes back and hits him several more times.
At this point, the first suspect entered the shop and took cash before fleeing.
The second suspect went behind the counter and put money and coins into his pockets. He then removed the camera from the wall.
Shortly after the incident, police arrested Kgotso Gaobuse,19, and Mosimanegape Bloem, 41, who were charged with murder and business robbery.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said they appeared in the Kathu Magistrates Court and the matter was adjourned for further investigation.
A community leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the attack had shocked the community.
“Mohammed was from Bangladesh and he came to South Africa about five years ago. He was a member of the local mosque and would attend prayers on Friday’s. He was a very soft natured and kind-hearted person. He treated the community and his customers with respect and he was very helpful.”
He said the violent manner in which he was killed had left the community in shock.
“In the last two years we have had tuckshop robberies and assaults but this was the first time the attack was so brutal. We are thankful to law enforcement for the swift arrest.”
He said Ferazi’s funeral was done last week and his body was sent back to Bangladesh.
The POST