GATVOL community members have taken over aboMyfriend spaza shops in Bophelong, Vaal.
The residents said they feared for their lives as they were allegedly being threatened with death.
Spaza shops were closed as community leaders promised to take back the township's economy at a great sacrifice.
One of the leaders, Thabiso Maphike, told Daily Sun that aboMyfriend allegedly called them and offered them R50 000 and monthly salaries to stop evicting them from the township.
Since they refused to accept the alleged bribes, Thabiso said aboMyfriend locked up all the buildings where they operate.
