The South African Police Service in the Western Cape believes the fatal shooting of a Ghanaian national in Nyanga earlier this week is linked to extortion, as detectives continue searching for those responsible.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said 35-year-old Kwabena Boagen was shot and killed at the Nyanga Terminus, outside a hair salon and shoe repair shop, on Monday.
Potelwa said preliminary investigations point to extortion as the motive for the killing.
“Official crime scene reports indicate that the deceased was shot at the Nyanga Terminus in circumstances that point to the crime of extortion by yet-to-be-arrested gunmen,” she said.
Emergency Medical Services declared Boagen dead at the scene. A murder case has since been opened, and Nyanga detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police have also contacted the victim’s relatives and extended their condolences.
The victim lived in Khayelitsha and worked in Nyanga. A post-mortem examination is being conducted in accordance with standard procedures.
Potelwa also responded to the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ claim that a Ghanaian national was shot during anti-immigrant demonstrations in Cape Town. She said police have no record of such an incident and have requested further information from the Ghanaian authorities.
“The South African Police Service bears no record of the Khayelitsha murder and appeals to the relevant authorities to provide details of the incident in order for the matter to be probed further,” Potelwa said.
Meanwhile, Government spokesperson William Baloyi rejected Ghana’s claims, saying no deaths were recorded during the recent demonstrations.
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