The merciless killing of a Somalian man in Thohoyandou over a lost R4 000 last Wednesday evening  has left members of the close-knit community in extreme shock.

To add insult to injury, it is alleged that Mr Vincent Abdulla (29) was killed by a fellow countryman.

Abdulla, who works at a restaurant in Thohoyandou, is alleged to have been killed by a customer who suspected him of stealing his money while he was eating at the restaurant. It is alleged that the customer followed him to his room after work at around 19:00 and accused him of having stolen his money.

An argument is said to have ensued, whereupon Abdulla was killed. After the confrontation he had a big gash in his throat and died at the scene. The suspect is said to have fled the scene after the incident.

This latest murder has opened up a can of worms about the alleged vicious life led by Somalian nationals in the Vhembe area. A year ago, another Somalian was viciously hacked by his countrymen and died of his injuries in the Nzhelele area.

Several violent incidents involving Somalians have also occurred in Thohoyandou. Some of the incidents took place in full view of other people in the central business area. In most cases, pangas and knives are used in the attacks, which shows that they are planned as the perpetrators carry the weapons with them.

“We are greatly saddened by what happened. There are always fights here among our own people. We are surprised as to what could be happening with our people. Instead of protecting each other, they are always fighting and stabbing each other with knives,” said one of the concerned members of the Somalian community in Thohoyandou.

The man said Somalian nationals were always in the firing line as they had to face robberies and attacks at their businesses in villages. “We were supposed to be united, so that we could fight off a common enemy of robbers terrorising us on a daily basis, but it seems as if we are even more divided among ourselves; we cannot protect each other,” said the man.

An Indian trader who has a business not far from where the incident happened said the man could have lived, had they phoned the police and ambulance immediately after the stabbing.

The shopkeeper added that business was becoming slow in the area as customers were afraid that they could be caught in the crossfire when fighting started.“We are badly affected by what is happening here, and the sooner the law takes its course here, the better.We cannot withstand this type of situation where there are fights on a daily basis,” he said.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Major Mashudu Malelo confirmed the incident. “As of now, we cannot divulge the cause of the argument between the men, and that will only become known in the course of our investigations,” he said. Malelo added that they had opened a murder case and that they hoped to arrest the suspect as he is known to them.