Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party is demanding that a Shoprite Store manager be charged with murder after the death of a suspected shoplifter in a cold room where he was being held.
Bandile Tshabalala from Ratanda, Heidelberg, was accused of stealing a chocolate bar at Ratanda Shoprite and was allegedly held in a cold room until he died on Sunday.
Reacting to 33-year-old Tshabalala’s death, the EFF in Gauteng said in a statement: “The Shoprite Store Manager must be charged with murder, and all those who knew of this crime must be charged for their negligence and failure to report it.
“Furthermore, the EFF calls on the Shoprite Store to be held accountable and compelled to compensate the Tshabalala family for the loss of their loved one.
“No one has a right to take the law into their own hands.”
The EFF said while it does not condone theft or lawlessness, there was “absolutely no justification for the management of Shoprite to take the law into their own hands by detaining a human being in a cold freezer for hours, leading to his untimely death”.
The EFF said it mourns the tragic death of Tshabalala.
The dailymaverick.co.za quotes Shoprite as saying: “The supermarket chain extends its condolences to the family following their loss.
“The allegations are seen in an extremely serious light and the necessary steps will be taken pending the outcome of a full investigation.”
IOL reports that Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said Ratanda police have opened a case of assault common as well as an inquest docket.
“This follows an alleged incident where two men accused of shoplifting were locked at the back of the store.
“One of the men, aged 33, during closing time complained of stomach aches, paramedics were called and he was declared dead on the scene.”
