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COPS PROBE DEATH INSIDE A COLD STORAGE

The death of a 33-year-old unemployed man  after he was locked inside a cold storage at a Shoprite store in Ratanda, Heidelberg, is not only a criminal act – it is barbaric.

What kind of person can lock up a human being inside a cold room for almost eleven hours  and expect him to survive not only the freezing temperatures, but the trauma and shock of being kept inside such a place ?

Bandile Shabalala  and his friend were allegedly subjected to this inhumane treatment  after they were apprehended by security guards for stealing chocolate bars. Witnesses allege that a senior Shoprite staffer took both men and locked them inside the cold storage on Sunday. Both were released the following morning. Shabalala’s  friend survived the horrific ordeal. Shabalala was allegedly dragged out of the cold room and placed outside the shop in the early hours of Monday morning. He was frozen to death.

Shoprite management has promised to cooperate  with the police to investigate the matter which they view in a serious light. They have also promised to take the necessary steps pending the outcome of the investigations.

 While we do not condone shoplifting or any kind of crime, we  condemn the staff member who deliberately ignored the laws of this country and took the law into his hands . We also deplore the kind of punishment he meted out to the two men. If the Shoprite store management is to be believed that they viewed this matter in a serious light and that this is not their policy, then they must prove it by immediately suspending the employee responsible for this savage behaviour.

It has since emerged that Shabalala, who was unemployed, recently lost both his parents and his brother was stabbed to death a year ago. He was struggling to survive. We do not however, approve of his action to allegedly steal, but abhor the manner in which this matter – a purely criminal issue – was handled.

Police have confirmed that they had opened an inquest docket and were investigating. No arrests have been made.

The  outraged community of Ratanda have condemned the incident. They also went on the rampage shortly after news of the incident and damaged a car belonging to one of the senior Shoprite staffers. Shabalala’s family also seeks answers from the company about his death. They have vowed to take legal action.

Whoever subjected Shabalala and his friend to this deadly ordeal, should hang his head in shame. To end someone’s life just like that simply because he stole a chocolate bar, is inhumane. Life is precious and in terms of our country’s Bill of Rights, everyone has a right to life.

Bandile Shabalala might have stolen a bar of chocolate but he did not deserve to be locked inside a cold storage and, like an animal, dragged out after nearly 12 hours – stone dead. Whoever is responsible for this savage act must face the full might of the law.

Shabalala deserves justice so he can rest in eternal peace.