A case of intimidation/assault/malicious damage to property was opened and a suspect arrested after a group of Hlalani residents overturned and set fire to the bakkie of an immigrant shopkeeper.
The incident, around 11am on Sunday 26 November, occurred at a Somalian owned spaza shop, police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said. Alleging that the shop owner had assaulted a local resident, the group had overturned his bakkie and set it alight.
The fire was put off by other community members; however, because of heavy winds it reignited – this time burnt the vehicle to a shell.
“It was found that the local person who was assaulted had gone to the shop with two others to assault the foreigner and in the process got assaulted,” Govender said.
The shop owner and his employees, together with all their belongings and stock, were moved to the CBD.