SOMALI shop owners, shocked by the brutal killing of two spaza owners by a trio of gunmen who went on a bloody rampage through three East London townships on Tuesday, buried their dead yesterday.
The gunmen shot up six spaza shops - five owned by Somalis and one by a Nigerian - in Duncan Village, CC Lloyd township and Buffalo Flats.
"We are investigating the fact that the suspects just went for foreigners," said police spokesperson Inspector Stephen Marais yesterday.
By last night, no one had been charged but two men, one in his 20s and the other in his 40s, had been brought in for questioning. Marais said arrests were imminent.
Mahamud Abdi Mahamed, 23, and Mahamed Nasier Omar, 20, died in the attacks. Four other spaza shop owners and a bystander were wounded.
Nigerian Daniel Dala, 27, Muhammed Ismail, 25, and Muhammed Mashafa, 35, are still in hospital, while Mohammed Ali and Vuyani Bodwana were discharged after treatment.
A vehicle believed to have been used by the gunmen was found on the side of the Douglas Smit Highway. A handgun stolen from the scene of the last robbery was found in the car.
Somalis at the funeral of the two men at the East Bank Cemetery yesterday told the Daily Dispatch that they lived in constant fear, after previous incidents at their shops - although nothing as bad as this week's attacks.
"We came to South Africa to look for a better life and we are killed," said one, who asked not to be named for fear of becoming a "soft target".
"We've come all the way from Somalia to find peace, love and unity but there is no peace here," he said. "In our own country, to be killed is expected because of the civil war. But here? We are not protected, we are not safe and we are not secure."
The Somalis said they left their country - an estimated 150 now live in East London - to escape the civil war but no longer think of South Africa as a safe haven.
They enter South Africa on three-month renewable permits which do not allow them to seek jobs. One option for them is to open spaza shops in the townships.
Some believe jealousy of their thriving businesses might have been a motive for the attacks.
"If this is no safe haven, it may be better to go back home," said one.
Duncan Village residents yesterday came out in support of the Somalis. Nimrod Ruiters echoed the views of many when he said their shops are good for the community: "They are friendly and their prices were good and cheap. I feel very bad about it and hope they catch the culprits." - I think its them Asians behind this, cause somalis took over their businesses in kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and now in south Africa!
Another local youngster, Zukile Gobeni, 19, believed the motive for the attacks was envy at the Somalis' success.
Xola Nodikana, ANC chairperson in Ward 25, said: "We don't have space in this world for violent criminals like these."
Somali Mohammed Ibrahim, who fled to SA to get away from the civil war eight months ago, said there is no support for refugees in SA.
