Cops MIA: Body spends night in street!

TRAGEDY strikes at Makause, Ekurhuleni.

George Tshiu (32) was shot dead on Sunday, 3 November, around 5.30pm at Makause informal settlement.

His body lay in the street before it was collected around 9.20am the next morning.

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The family claims Primrose police were too scared to enter the informal settlement at night.

However, residents dismiss this as an excuse, pointing out that police frequently visit the area to collect bribes from illegal miners, known as zama zamas, despite the danger.

"This is poor reasoning. We see them coming here to take money from illegal miners. There's an open shaft here and they know about it, but don't close it because they're on the zama zamas' payroll," a resident said.

George's mum, heartbroken and traumatised, shared her grief.

"My son had to lie in the street like a dead dog. That thing has traumatised me as a mum. I'm grieving for my son and now the police made the pain worse," she said.

The family and residents had to guard George's body throughout the night, covered only by a blanket.

They blame the open shaft for the frequent shootings in the area, as illegal miners often engage in violent confrontations with no regard for residents' safety.

"George died for being vocal about these zama zamas and wanted police to do something about the shaft and now he's dead. We want to know what police are doing about this shaft," said another resident.

Captain Nelda Sekgobela, spokeswoman for Ekurhuleni Police, said police will investigate the allegations and confirmed that a murder case has been opened.