Pretoria - The family of Thabiso Daniels, the Mamelodi teenager who was killed during violent protests that engulfed most townships in Tshwane, disputed claims that their son died while looting a foreign-owned shop in the township.
Daniels, 19, is one of two people who were killed following sporadic and widespread incidents of looting in the township east of Pretoria.
“Thabiso was part of the people who were helping foreign nationals to move out of the township.
“They helped them gather their stock and ensured that they left Mamelodi without being harassed by anyone along their way,” said Roger Daniels, the teen’s uncle.
He said his nephew was gunned down by an unknown man travelling in a white van on Tuesday night.
“One of Thabiso’s friends who was there with him when the shooting happened told us that a white van approached them with two occupants in it.
“They stopped them and asked them what they were doing, where they came from and where they were going,” explained Roger.
The 43-year-old said one of the occupants then shot at Daniels and his two friends.
“Thabiso was shot in the back. He died on his way to Mamelodi Day Hospital,” he said.
According to Roger, one of the youth leaders in the area had rounded up some of the youngsters and urged them to prevent the looting and damaging of property in the township. He said this was an attempt to restore order in the area.
Daniels' mother, Tshepi, said: “My son was not a troublemaker. He would not engage in looting. Thabiso was passionate about studying and was intelligent.”
The 19-year-old was a first year civil engineering student at the Tshwane North College.
“His death has left a huge void in our lives. We are still finding it hard to believe that he died that way. He never strayed off for more than two hours,” said Tshepi.
Violence and looting spread throughout the capital city following communities’ rejection of former cabinet member Thoko Didiza as the ANC's mayoral candidate for the capital in the upcoming local government elections.
Simon Modihe was shot and killed on Sunday during a clash between two factions of the ruling party in the metro. A total of 19 buses were burnt on Monday at the City to City bus depot in Mamelodi. Five trucks were also burnt.
Two malls - Attlyn in Atteridgeville and Thorn Tree in Mabopane - were looted, while a number of shopping centres had remained closed since the start of the unrest.
Members of the ANC in Mamelodi were seen on Thursday assisting in removing burnt rubble and buses from the depot. Zonal secretary in Mamelodi, Silas Moselakgomo, said this was their way of condemning violence in the township.
“We are sending a message to the community that we condemn what has happened here. We are also sending a message that comrade Didiza will be welcomed in the city. As a matter of fact, we will parade her around Mamelodi when the time comes,” said Moselakgomo.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Solomon Mahlangu Family Trust. Its spokesman, Gideon Mahlangu, said the violence should not be linked to the ruling party as it is not part of the ANC’s constitution.
“It cannot be that members of the ANC were responsible for these barbaric acts. They made an oath voluntarily, they need to act as such,” said Mahlangu.
Pretoria News