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Picture Courtesy: (Sowetan Live/ NoxoloSibiya) Bandile Tshabalala’s familyHeidelberg Magistrate’s Court.
According to the police, Tshabalala was locked inside the supermarket’s col room around 8:00 a.m. when he was caught shoplifting an antiseptic ointment.
A post-mortem has revealed that Tshabalala’s cause of death was unnatural.
According to the post-mortem report, Tshabalala displayed evidence of hypothermia after being locked inside the supermarket’s cold room, which contributed to his death.
It is alleged that Tshabalala died inside the supermarket’s cold room, and employees dragged his lifeless body to where it was found, not far from the supermarket’s entrance.
Accused of his murder are Sandile Shangase and Kamohelo Tsoari, who are believed to be security officers at the supermarket where the incident occurred, and they appeared in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Shangase and Tsoari face six charges: one of murder, three counts of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of kidnapping.
According to News24, on Monday, community members disclosed to them that there were three victims, and while Tshabalala died, the other two survived.
Speaking outside court, Mabu Marweshe, the attorney of Tshabalala’s family, said that the post-mortem results revealed that Tshabalala died an unusual death, which is consistent with hypothermia, which can be brought on by conditions lower than 90 degrees.
The murder case is expected to return to court on May 31 and Marweshe said that upon the conclusion of the criminal case, he will be working with the deceased’s family to pursue a civil case against the supermarket.
He added that the police need to thoroughly investigate the supermarket’s manager because the accused were following his instructions when they put Tshabalala inside the cold room.
Shoprite released a statement stating that the branch manager had been suspended and that it is currently conducting an internal disciplinary process.
When the criminal investigations have been concluded, the supermarket said it will make sure that the law and the company’s code of conduct are followed in taking appropriate action against everyone involved in the matter.
Shoprite emphasised that it considers protecting and defending human rights as its corporate responsibility in all its activities and commercial interactions, and it does not condone any form of human rights violation.
Thokozile Mazibuko, who is the aunt of the deceased, said that they were deeply pained by this incident, and what was done to her nephew was wrong.
“They should not have taken the law into their own hands; instead, they should have called the police.”
Meanwhile, Tshabalala’s sister, Nelisiwe Mazibuko, described him as someone bubbly, emotional, and hard-working.
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