6 Februarie 2020
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Studente vlug in alle rigtings om uit die reën te kom en toerusting te red. Foto: Tsholofelo Motswenyane Community Spoegwolf BekendeTurkstra Stranger prays seën oorlede Bl.9 chases together studente met rapists following ‘n optrede in away murder die Spur P2 Bl.5 P5 2 www.potchefstroomherald.co.za Potchefstroom Herald 6 Februarie 2020
A resident lays hands on the store’s walls, passionate- ly praying for crime in the communi- ty.
Tsholofelo Motswenyane the death of the shop owner as so many people, young and old, fre- The community of Promosa firmly quented the shop and the nearby believes that with prayer, things will shops in that street. get better. Uddin Kutub, a shop owner of Following the shooting of a shop Tumelong 2 Supermarket & Takea- owner, Bayzid Mohammed (33), the ways, (next door to Bayzid’s store) community of Promosa gathered at recalls the day of the incident. Casper’s Shop (Tumelong 2 Super- According to him, he was standing market & Takeaways) for a mass outside his shop between 19:00 and prayer for the crime happening in 20:00 last Wednesday when he heard Promosa. Bayzid was shot in his a loud bang. He explains that he shop at the Promosa business area then asked the people in the parking last Wednesday (29 January). lot what the sound was. “They just On Monday evening (3 February), said it was the sound of people the community gathered at Casper’s lighting fireworks,” he says. Shop. Mr Glenville Fransman led the Shortly after he entered his shop, The community of Promosa praying for the crime in Promosa, in front of Casper's shop mass prayer. The residents started he says there was a commotion and (Tumelong 2 Supermarket & Takeaways). Photos: Tsholofelo Motswenyane with a few choruses. Then, while people started scattering. Some even holding hands, they began to pray. went into his shop. He then asked Uddin adds that he was equally “He was a nice guy. He wasn’t one After the first session, they moved them what was happening. One of distressed at the sight of people to bother other people, or have to the Promosa Supermarket & his customers told him that the looting the store while the owner problems with other people,” he Takeaways, laid their hands on the shop owner next door had been shot was still lying there. “He was lying says. He also mentioned that his walls of the store and started to and pleaded with him to let them on the counter. Some took cigarettes, children were in tears when they pray. stay inside. some took the money and some took heard about his passing. The community is traumatised by Uddin and his younger brother chips. So, no one wanted to help Residents vowed to put a stop to immediately locked the gates of their that guy,” he said with a heavy heart. the bloodshed in Promosa and shop until it was safe for them to go According to him, he doesn’t feel believe this will be done through outside. safe or secure. The incident has prayer. Ps Van Wyk pleaded with the Uddin says he is extremely trou- trauma- youth to be vigilant and speak up, as bled by what happened and what he tised him so much that he even had they are the ones who can help saw. When he walked to the shop, he to seek medical attention. protect the communities. saw Bayzid lying in a pool of blood. Fransica Second, a community Fransman says, following the member, says she was also trauma- passing of Bayzid, a fellow communi- tised about what had transpired. A ty member, Melvirine Veldschoen, few minutes before the incident, she realised the urgency for a mass was buying some things at the prayer as crime incidence was on tuckshop. “What if someone else was the rise. also injured? What about our chil- “I want to encourage the parents, dren?” says the shaken mother. teachers, the elders, leaders and According to her, she was a regu- pastors to remain in God’s presence lar customer of the late Bayzid and and pray for our community every used to buy milk or bread. “They minute of every hour. Wherever we helped us a lot. We could even buy may be, keep on praying,” he says. things on credit,” she says. He pleads with the community to Pastor Andries van Wyk of the New take responsibility in playing their Beginning Community Restoration part in creating a safer Promosa. Centre, says what happened, was a “The time for blaming and pointing great shock to the community. fingers is over. We need to act now.”