The vibrant streets of Kraaifontein, Cape Town, usually echo with the sounds of vendors selling their goods, but on Tuesday, 20 August, a haunting silence took over as news spread of a brutal killing. Lindi Sehlabela, a well-known 64-year-old gogo famous for her mouth-watering traditional meals like umnqambulo (cow head meat), amathumbu (intestines), and penzi (offal), was shot in the head, allegedly for refusing to pay a protection fee demanded by a local gang.
Lindi had become a cherished figure in the community, earning her livelihood by selling her beloved traditional dishes from a small makeshift shop. Her food drew many loyal customers, making her a familiar and respected face on the streets. However, her life was tragically cut short, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
A resident, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her terrifying experience with the *Daily Sun*, shedding light on the fear that now grips the area. She explained that local gangs have been extorting vendors, demanding protection fees from everyone, regardless of what they sell.
“These boys are demanding protection fees from everyone, it doesn’t matter what you’re selling. I used to be a vendor in our area, but I stopped. I had to move and operate from somewhere else. I suspect makhulu was murdered because she had not paid them,” she said.
The resident, who had a close relationship with Lindi, revealed how vendors are forced to pay protection fees to multiple gangs, sometimes even paying twice in one day.
“The challenge is that you sometimes pay them, and another gang demands money the following day. People sometimes paid twice,” she explained. “We don’t get much money on the streets, and the protection fee issue has made the lives of vendors difficult. I decided to leave and now sell in the train.”
Lindi’s tragic death underscores the escalating issue of extortion and violence that many vendors, spaza shop owners, and salon operators across South Africa face daily. The situation has become so dire that many are forced to abandon their livelihoods out of fear for their safety.
A community leader expressed her deep concern over the incident, saying: “I’ve heard that makhulu’s death is in connection with protection fee payment. We don’t know. We must give the police a chance to investigate. Demand for protection fee is in every corner. Government must do something.”
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, confirmed the details of the harrowing incident.
“Circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation. According to reports, police members responded to a complaint of a shooting, and upon arrival on the scene, they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the back of the head,” he said.
“She was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel. Motive for the attack forms part of the investigation. The suspect(s) fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. A murder case was registered for investigation.”
As the community of Kraaifontein mourns the loss of one of its own, the incident has reignited calls for greater action against the rampant extortion and violence that plague the area. Many hope that Lindi Sehlabela’s death will serve as a wake-up call for authorities to address the growing threat to the safety and livelihood of vendors across the country.