By Zara Nicholson
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
His comment comes after another Somali man, Mohamed Mohamood, 23, was shot dead in a shop in Nyanga last week.
Another incident on the same day took place in Kraaifontein where four gunmen entered a shop and fired shots at two Somali men, who were later taken to hospital. They are reportedly in a stable condition.
Ramatlakane said police are investigating the killings of Somali shop owners as if they were crimes against any other business owners.
"I don't think they are being targeted. It is a crime that is taking place and businesses are being targeted. I wouldn't generalise the incident. Many South Africans get robbed not because they are South African but because they are business owners," said Ramatlakane.
He said in 2006 the department created a structure that encouraged businesses to interact more with police. It is not focused on business owners from a particular nationality.
A police source who worked specifically on the murder of Somalis in the province between 2005 and the end of 2006, especially in Delft where many of the killings took place, said a task team was investigating the murders of 25 Somalis. He said most of the victims were shop owners.
Police have arrested 19 suspects, all South African, most from Delft and some from Khayelitsha, said police sources. All 19 appeared in the Bellville magistrate's court in 2006 on charges ranging from murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.
The State successfully opposed bail for six suspects while 13 were released because of a lack of witnesses.
The six who have cases pending are being kept at the Goodwood Prison. One is facing four murder charges and is expected to appear for a bail hearing on July 31.
A police source said the group of men arrested call themselves the Palestinians and most are from East London. They were involved in hijackings, robberies and killings, almost all targeting Somalis.
Ahmed Dawlo, director of the Somalian Association of South Africa, said Somalian communities were horrified by the new attacks and feared "the same hell will break loose".
He said there was an attempt to drive Somali spaza shop owners from townships and said the 19 people in Delft were arrested for public violence.
Source: Cape Argus, July 11, 2007