The streets of Kraaifontein in Cape Town are usually bustling with the sights and sounds of vendors selling their wares. But on Tuesday 20 August, a chilling silence fell over the area as a 64-year-old gogo, known for her delicious umnqambulo (cow head meat), amathumbu (intestines) and penzi (offal), lay dead, shot in the head.
The gogo, a familiar face to locals, had been a fixture on the street, earning a living by selling her traditional cooked meals. However, her life was tragically cut short, allegedly for refusing to pay a protection fee demanded by a ruthless gang.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her harrowing experience with the Daily Sun, revealing the terror that had gripped the community.
“These boys are demanding protection fee from everyone, it doesn’t matter what you're selling. I used to be a vendor in our area, but I stopped. I had to move and operate from somewhere else. I suspect makhulu was murdered because she had not paid them,” she said.
The woman, who had a close relationship with the gogo, recounted how vendors were forced to pay protection fees to two different gangs.
“The challenge is that you sometimes pay them, and another gang demands money the following day. People sometimes paid twice,” she said.
“We don’t get much money on the streets and the protection fee issue has made the lives of vendors difficult. I decided to leave and now sell in the train.”
A community leader, expressing her deep concern, said: “I've heard that makhulu’s death is in connection with protection fee payment. We don’t know. We must give the police a chance to investigate. Demand for protection fee is in every corner. Government must do something.”
Police spokesman, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, confirmed the details of the horrific incident.
“Circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation. According to reports, police members responded to a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene, they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the back of the head,” he said.
“She was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel. Motive for the attack forms part of the investigation. The suspect(s) fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. A murder case was registered for investigation.”
