A Bangladeshi immigrant and businessman in Hlanganani township, Mr Mahafuzur Rahamaw (28), has been experiencing crime at least twice every five months over the past two years.

His latest blow came when two thugs mugged him while he was walking towards his parked car after closing his business, Khwiyimani Shop, at around 20:00 on Friday. They hit him on the head and neck with a bottle of beer and he fell down. When he tried to get to his feet, the thugs kicked him in the ribs. They demanded the daily takings, but he had no cash on him. Then they took his mobile phone.

“They told me to keep quiet or else they would kill me,” said a traumatised Rahamaw. “As they assaulted me, I felt much pain and screamed.”

A resident heard a cry outside and came to investigate, armed with his pistol. When he found that the businessman whom he knew was being robbed, he fired a warning shot and the criminals ran away.

The police were called and a case of common robbery was opened.

“I don't like what is happening here,” Rahamaw said. “We work hard to fill our shops with stock but tsotsis come to rob us. Last November, four armed tsotsis broke into my house and robbed us of property and R10 000 cash.”

Rahamaw feels that the police should do more. “Tsotsis walk the streets of the township freely as if they are untouchable beings,” he said. “I have reported nearly all the cases each time tsotsis have robbed me, but nothing happened after that.”

A resident, Mr Max Nukeri, said that Rahamaw had brought business closer to the people. “If he gets tired of crime and finally closes his business, we will have to travel several kilometres for other shops which sell the kind of things he sells,” Nukeri said.