TURF wars over lucrative “protection fee” zones have been fingered as a possible motive for the killing of two men in Gugulethu this week.
Police are investigating a shooting incident in which two men were fatally wounded in Ernie Batt Street, KTC, shortly after they had allegedly collected money for protecting a nearby Somali shop on Monday afternoon.
A detective at Gugulethu police station, Colonel Abram Moreku, said the practice of extorting “protection fees” from Somali shopkeepers was prevalent in the area.
He said investigations had revealed that people were killing each other while fighting for the job of protecting local shops.
Moreku said that in the latest incident the victims had allegedly been shot at by suspects driving a white VW Golf.
“There were five of them, and a white Golf came and shot at them. We do not know who was in the Golf. The guys who were collecting money from the Somalian shop were five, but (the persons in the Golf) shot two dead and the other three are on the run,” he explained.
According to police, the deceased were both aged 35. They were walking in the street when unknown armed suspects opened fire on them.
“Gugulethu police are seeking the assistance of the public to identify the suspects involved in a shooting incident where two males were fatally wounded,” said police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi.
“The victims were declared deceased at the scene by the medical personnel.”
Anyone with information that can assist with the investigation can call Gugulethu detectives at 021 684 2300 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.