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Picture Courtesy: (BREIFLY/ Reitumeste Makwea) Angry community members threw stones and damaged a Shoprite supermarket door while demanding answers about the death of a 33-year-old man who died after being held in the supermarket’s cold room.
(The Post News)– A 33-year-old man has died in Ratanda, Heidelberg, South Gauteng, after allegedly stealing a chocolate bar.
The police have clarified that Bandile Shabalala was 33 years old, following reports that he was a 13-year-old boy.
News24 confirmed that the deceased was unemployed and that the two friends he was with ran away when the supermarket’s security personnel captured him.
The incident occurred on Sunday, May 19, and it is believed that Shabalala was held inside the supermarket’s cold room for about 11 hours. His body was discovered in the morning of Monday, May 20, outside an Avbob branch near the supermarket in question, and that is when members of the community gathered outside the supermarket.
During this gathering, angry community members threw stones at the supermarket, damaging one of its doors, as they expressed their dissatisfaction and demanded answers. According to community members, the supermarket locking up people in its cold room as a form of punishment was not unusual, but they usually let them go after 30 minutes.
Ratanda police have launched an investigation into the matter. Police spokesperson, Colonel Noxolo Kweza, said that an inquest docket and a common assault case have been opened by the Ratanda police and that this incident comes after another reported incident, where two guys suspected of shoplifting were detained at the back of the supermarket.
She added that when the store was closing for that day, one of the two men complained about having stomach pain. Paramedics were called; however, the man was pronounced dead on the scene.
Meanwhile, the supermarket released a statement conveying its condolences to Shabalala’s family and said that it takes the accusations seriously and will ensure that appropriate action is taken while conducting a thorough investigation.
This matter is now in the hands of the police, and the supermarket cannot speak on it. According to the supermarket, Ratanda police stations should be contacted for any information regarding the incident. In addition to that, to assist with the police investigation, the supermarket said it was willing to fully cooperate and provide any relevant information.
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