Tuck shop owner ‘on the run’ after fatal assault

A TUCK shop owner has yet to be apprehended after he allegedly fatally struck a 29-year-old customer over the head with a hockey stick in Stanley Batyashe Street in Galeshewe.

Community members were concerned that the suspect was a flight risk as he had “disappeared” following the alleged incident that took place on August 9.

“The longer it takes to arrest him, the more time he will have to leave the city. We do not know if he is legally in the country,” they stated.

It is believed that the deceased, Kevin du Pont, was assaulted after the shop owner accused him of using a counterfeit note to purchase cigarettes, cooldrinks and sweets.

The chairperson of Operation Fiela, Thabiso Louw, said Du Pont suffered severe head injuries and received medical treatment in the intensive care unit.

“His condition deteriorated after he was moved into an ordinary ward and he died on August 29. He leaves behind his partner and six-year-old daughter,” said Louw.

“The suspect was operating three tuck shops in Stock and Stock and Vergenoeg. A decision was taken to close all the tuck shops in the area from August 29 in an attempt to force the suspect to hand himself over to the police. We had to prevent the community from taking the law into their own hands.”

He added that other local tuck shop owners did not know the whereabouts of the suspect.

“No one has a photo of him and he is only known by his nickname. We spoke to a relative, who said that he was unable to locate the suspect or provide us with his contact number.”

Louw facilitated a meeting where tuck shop owners and members of the community met with the police this week.

“The investigation is continuing. The police have called for calm and advised community members not to harm the suspect.”

Louw added that a memorial service was held for Du Pont at the Percival Jas Hall on Wednesday.

Some community members were meanwhile aggrieved over the closure of the tuck shops.

“What about the elderly and sick people who now need to catch a taxi to go buy staple foods so that they can take their medication?” they asked.

Grieving family members meanwhile want answers following Du Pont’s death.

Magdelena Williams stated that the family had been left destitute following her son’s death.

“We travelled to Kimberley from Cape Town without a cent and had nowhere to stay. My son was supporting us financially as none of us have an income. We want answers because my son is no longer alive to explain what really happened. No one deserves to die such a cruel death.”

She added that despite growing up in the gang-infested neighbourhood of Lavender Hill, her eldest child had never encountered any violence while living in Cape Town.

“He came to Kimberley in search of work. Who would have thought that he would meet his untimely death in such a quiet place?”

Community activist Herbert Miller said that tuck shop owners had contributed towards the burial as well as the funeral undertaker’s costs to transport Du Pont’s body back to Cape Town.

“This enabled the family to return home on Wednesday. The tuck shops reopened on September 3,” said Miller.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the Frances Baard district commissioner, Major-General Charlotte Makgari, had met with all relevant role-players and the community convened a meeting on September 2.

“A discussion was held on how the community can assist the police with the arrest of the suspect involved in the alleged murder case,” Kock stated.