Bartamaha (Nairobi):- Today the Daily Voice can reveal the truth behind the attacks on foreigner-owned businesses on the Cape Flats.

An in-depth investigation has revealed that a prominent shebeen queen is the ringleader of an evil syndicate behind numerous attacks that have unsettled the uneasy peace between locals and foreigners.

The Daily Voice is in possession of statements from three hitmen that directly link the woman to multiple attacks on foreigners.

A source close to the investigation says the woman has managed to mobilise a small army of angry businessmen and dangerous killers.

They have the money and the guns and their sole aim is to rid the Flats of all flourishing rivals so that their own businesses can fill the gap.

The attacks started on March 21 in Luzuko near Philippi-East and spiked after the 2010 World Cup.

Two of the hitmen’s statements say the woman gave direct orders for at least two Somalis to be shot and killed and their shops torched.

The statement reads: ?I shot the first Somali in the right shoulder and was too scared to carry out the second attack.

“I gave the gun to the second hitman who shot dead Farouk Hussain on the night of March 21 in Luzuko, near Philippi-East, and I threw the petrol bomb at the spaza.”

The three suspects, who are currently in Pollsmoor prison, claim the shebeen owner paid them R4 000 for killing a Somali, injuring another and burning their stock.

The three Philippi-East suspects now face charges of murder, arson and attempted murder for the attack.

While police build their case against the dangerous woman, they say they are taking no chances with their investigation.

“There are fears that by revealing the name of the shebeen queen, she might hire other hitmen to eliminate the three who are presently behind bars,” the source says.

“We are aware of at least one cop who was paid

R30 000 to make a docket disappear and because of this bribery element, investigations into attacks on foreigners are classified information.

“The modus operandi in most attacks is the same, and because of this we have asked the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to centralise all the cases so that it can be brought before one magistrate.”

He adds that the three men are the first solid leads cops have to help solve the attacks on foreigners.

“Cops have information that this shebeen queen had regularly met with prominent township business people who are allegedly behind the brutal violence directed at foreigners,” the source says.

“It is a well-organised plan with one common purpose and that is to drive foreign-owned shops out of the townships, kill them and burn their shops so that local-owned businesses in townships can survive.”

A task team is now investigating attacks in Wellington, Mbekweni, Harare, Makhaza, Philippi, Macassar, Franschhoek and Klapmuts.

The dockets of at least 13 cases under investigation are not even kept at local police level in order to stop corrupt cops from being bribed into making dockets disappear.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Billy Jones confirmed that criminals are behind the wave of attacks on foreigners.

“Investigations into cases indicate that criminals are behind these attacks,” he says.

“A lot of suspects are behind bars and I am aware of one attack where five were busted.

“A task team works around the clock to bring an end to these attacks and those orchestrating the violence.”

In the most recent case, three Somali shopkeepers narrowly escaped being burnt to death inside their small shop when their winkel was petrol-bombed in Wallacedene last week.

Two people were arrested for the attack a few days later and prominent community leaders in the area say they have no doubt it is local business people behind the attacks.

Two South African Civic Association members from the area say hitmen were hired to kill them after they spoke out against the attacks earlier this month.

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Source:  Daily Voice

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