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Photo of missing Vosloorus spaza shop owner, Mazwi Kubheka
Scores of Vosloorus residents in the east of Johannesburg have taken to the streets in protest after the disappearance of spaza shop owner, Mazwi Kubheka, who was last seen a month ago.
It is believed his disappearance is linked to ongoing turf disputes between spaza shop owners in the area.
The protesters suspect he may have been kidnapped after reportedly refusing to hand over his shop to foreign nationals, said to be keen on taking over his business.
Kubheka’s parents are distraught and plagued by sleepless nights since April 2, when their son did not return home from the bank where he had gone to deposit money.
Kubheka’s father says he vanished days after he was supposed to have done his banking, adding that he believes he did not make it to the bank.
“We believe that he was kidnapped after refusing to hand over his spaza shop to the Pakistanis. They approached him wanting to take over, but he refused. Unfortunately, days after he was supposed to be going for banking, he vanished. He never got to the bank,” he says.
Community leader Themba Mnisi says the community has rallied to help the family find their missing son, despite their political differences.
“We need to ensure that we do not politicise this; we are all coming from different political parties but some of us are not even wearing the T-shirts of our parties because this is not about us.”
The Kubheka family says while this has been a difficult time, they appreciate the efforts of the community and they are praying every day for his safe return home.
The protesting Vosloorus residents have urged the government to shut down all foreign–owned spaza shops in the area, or they would do it themselves.
