Township business owners in Cape Town being killed for allegedly refusing to pay protection money

On Wednesday morning a salon owner in Philippi, Cape Town, was shot dead at his place of business apparently for refusing to pay a “protection fee”.

“One of them said they should send a message to us other businesses about what happens when people refuse to pay. The next thing they shot him. There were three gunshots,” said an eyewitness.“I think he refused to pay these guys because he already paid at the end of February. People open small businesses to feed their families and now they are killed,” he said.

Hair salons, vegetable stalls, meat sellers, furniture and electrical appliance dealers say they are now too scared to operate. Some owners toldA Philippi vendor said the streets of the township have become a war zone. It does not matter how small one’s business is, the syndicates want 25% of the month’s earnings, he said.

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