THUGS wearing balaclavas are said to target spaza shop owners who don’t want to pay protection fee.
A spaza shop in Everest squatter camp in Springs, Ekurhuleni, was broken into on Wednesday night, 5 October.
The owner (28) believes he was targeted because he wasn’t paying protection fee.
He said five thugs who were wearing balaclavas came while he was asleep.
“I heard as they were trying to break in and I blew the whistle to alert the community,” he said.
He said hearing the sound of the whistle, the thugs fired five shot to scare the residents.
The spaza owner said they removed one of the zinc sheet from his shack to gain entry.
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“They ordered me to keep quiet and demanded cash. They took groceries and airtime machine,” he said.
The traumatised owner said the stolen goods are estimated to be more than R7 000.
“It’s painful to work hard and people just come and take what you’ve worked hard for,” said the shop owner.
Springs Police Station spokesman Themba Tshabalala said the cops were looking for the suspects.
A resident said: “There’s a group terrorising us. Shop owners who don’t pay the protection fee are targeted. We are not sure if he’s paying. Business people especially spaza owners know they have to pay to be safe.”
Residents say they are also living in fear.
“By 7am, we are in our yards because when they find you in the street, they rob you and in extreme cases kill you,” said the resident.
