Cape Town - It has been 10 months and the family of restaurant workers allegedly murdered by police officers have yet to receive closure.
Phumeza Fudumele, who worked at Nando’s Sunningdale, was killed when police allegedly opened fire on a taxi transporting staff to Dunoon. Another worker was injured. Weeks later, McDonald’s workers in Kuils River were shot at after their staff transport vehicle was allegedly mistaken for a similar van involved in an armed robbery.
Noxolo Skota and a colleague died at the scene and six others were wounded.
The cases of murder and attempted murder were referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), which has yet to make any arrests.
Fudumele’s mother, Thozama Fudumele, said she needed closure since her daughter was “shot down like a dog”. “Police have not returned to me. I have heard nothing. When my daughter died, police never even visited me. I am not feeling right. They killed my daughter like an animal and then they said nothing about it. It is still hurtful to me.”
At the time, Nando’s said in a statement the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said the investigation would be concluded no later than November 18, which is this Friday.
“A law firm was appointed and the necessary claims have been submitted on their behalf,” the statement read.
Ipid spokesman, Moses Dlamini, told the Cape Argus the case involving the Nando’s workers was sent to the DPP, but was returned with queries. The investigation involving the McDonald’s workers was completed, but had yet to be written up to be sent to the DPP’s office. He said the DPP was to make a decision on the matters before action could be taken, which included the arrest of the parties involved.
Cape Argus