Friday April 25, 2025
FILE – A brightly painted spaza shop, named “Shorty Tuck Shop,” located in a suburban area of Cape Town, South Africa. These small shops, often owned by Somali nationals, are common targets of extortion and criminal activity.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (HOL) — Two Somali nationals, aged 18 and 20, were fatally shot Wednesday night in what police suspect was an extortion-related ambush at a spaza shop in the Wallacedene neighbourhood, located on the northeastern outskirts of Cape Town.
Authorities said four armed men approached the shop around 9:45 p.m. and opened fire before fleeing the scene. One of the victims died at the premises. The second was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“Initial reports suggest this may be linked to extortion,” said Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, spokesperson for the South African Police Service. “We are investigating two counts of murder. The suspects remain at large.”
The shooting occurred on Kalako Street in Phase 7, a densely populated area where Somali-owned shops are common. Residents said they heard gunfire around 9:30 p.m. but hesitated to respond immediately out of fear.
“When we finally stepped outside, both boys were lying in a pool of blood,” said one woman who lives nearby. “One was still moving, but the other had already died. They shot him in the head.”
The double murder is part of a larger pattern of targeted violence against Somali nationals operating spaza shops in Cape Town, where criminal gangs often extort shop owners for protection money. Somali business owners have long been vulnerable to such attacks, with many forced to pay protection fees to avoid further violence or threats.
The Somali community in South Africa has endured a significant rise in xenophobic violence, with many Somali nationals targeted due to their perceived economic competition. Such attacks are frequently fueled by tensions over jobs, resources, and political rhetoric surrounding immigration. Similar incidents have occurred across Cape Town, particularly in areas like Khayelitsha and Philippi, where Somali shopkeepers have been targeted for extortion, often leading to fatal consequences.
Residents who witnessed Wednesday night’s killing described the victims, who were both recent employees at the shop, as hardworking and polite.
“These boys were kind and polite,” said another resident. “They were too young to die like this.”
In the face of repeated attacks, the Somali community has initiated neighbourhood watch programs in an attempt to protect their businesses and families from further harm. However, many feel that these efforts are not enough, as criminal extortion continues to fuel attacks on Somali-owned businesses.
A local community leader, who declined to be named due to safety concerns, said the attack may have been a warning related to protection fees that some shop owners are pressured to pay.
“These boys were likely caught up in something they didn’t control,” he said. “It’s not the first time this has happened — they were probably targeted to send a message to the shop owner.”
The South African Police Service has pledged to investigate the killings and bring those responsible to justice. However, members of the Somali community have previously expressed frustration over the lack of police presence and protection. Despite recent efforts, including the establishment of specialized task forces to address extortion-related violence, the Somali community continues to feel unsafe, as criminal syndicates persist in demanding protection fees and using violence to enforce their control.
In response to the growing violence, several political leaders have called for a more comprehensive government approach to combat both extortion and xenophobic violence, urging authorities to strengthen enforcement and create safer environments for foreign nationals running businesses in South Africa.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact local police or anonymously report tips through South Africa’s Crime Stop hotline.
