A Mthatha businessman is being investigated by police over allegations he pointed a firearm at a another man in an altercation at Hemingways Mall in East London on Saturday.A case against SQ Risk Security owner Wessels Scheepers was opened the same day at the Cambridge police station by Cambridge resident Hoosein Omar.
Scheepers, 53, who in 2013 appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping, is alleged to have threatened to shoot Omar following an argument which started at a parking ticket pay station on Saturday.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Scheepers said: “I have nothing to say – let the law take its course.”
But a “traumatised” Omar said the incident had been very real and he had been “saved” by mall security.
Omar said he had been queuing to pay his parking ticket when Scheepers jumped the line.
“I asked him if he could not see there was a line. He then asked me why I was not using the pay station so I ignored him but he wanted to fight. I paid for my ticket and left. As I was leaving he swore at me calling me a half-breed,” Omar said.
As he walked to his car on the upper parking level Scheepers allegedly continued verbally assaulting him.
“I waved him away dismissively,” said Omar. “As I was about to reach my car he came speeding up to me with his car. He got out and I saw he was armed with a big gun.
“I asked him ‘are you actually going to involve a weapon in this?’ He then said he had more and ran back to his car and came back carrying a big knife,” alleged Omar.
“I was eventually saved by mall security guards. I then rushed to the police station to report the matter,” Omar said.
Hemingways general manager Janice Coopoosamy confirmed the incident saying: “Centre management can confirm that there was an incident of this nature in the parking area on Saturday.
“The shopping centre strictly prohibits the use of firearms on the property.
“We are a family destination shopping centre and pride ourselves in providing a safe secure shopping environment for customers.
“All necessary procedures are being attended to in following up this incident,” said Coopoosamy.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said they were investigating the matter. No arrests had been made.
The Daily Dispatch was yesterday unable to ascertain the outcome of the kidnapping trial. The clerk of the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court told the paper he would only be able to get the information today.
Scheepers had been charged with kidnapping after he allegedly held two young men for a night against their will. It was alleged icy water was poured on them and they were forced to eat dog faeces. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Police probe gun threat at mall
Scheepers, 53, who in 2013 appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping, is alleged to have threatened to shoot Omar following an argument which started at a parking ticket pay station on Saturday.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Scheepers said: “I have nothing to say – let the law take its course.”
But a “traumatised” Omar said the incident had been very real and he had been “saved” by mall security.
Omar said he had been queuing to pay his parking ticket when Scheepers jumped the line.
“I asked him if he could not see there was a line. He then asked me why I was not using the pay station so I ignored him but he wanted to fight. I paid for my ticket and left. As I was leaving he swore at me calling me a half-breed,” Omar said.
As he walked to his car on the upper parking level Scheepers allegedly continued verbally assaulting him.
“I waved him away dismissively,” said Omar. “As I was about to reach my car he came speeding up to me with his car. He got out and I saw he was armed with a big gun.
“I asked him ‘are you actually going to involve a weapon in this?’ He then said he had more and ran back to his car and came back carrying a big knife,” alleged Omar.
“I was eventually saved by mall security guards. I then rushed to the police station to report the matter,” Omar said.
Hemingways general manager Janice Coopoosamy confirmed the incident saying: “Centre management can confirm that there was an incident of this nature in the parking area on Saturday.
“The shopping centre strictly prohibits the use of firearms on the property.
“We are a family destination shopping centre and pride ourselves in providing a safe secure shopping environment for customers.
“All necessary procedures are being attended to in following up this incident,” said Coopoosamy.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said they were investigating the matter. No arrests had been made.
The Daily Dispatch was yesterday unable to ascertain the outcome of the kidnapping trial. The clerk of the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court told the paper he would only be able to get the information today.
Scheepers had been charged with kidnapping after he allegedly held two young men for a night against their will. It was alleged icy water was poured on them and they were forced to eat dog faeces. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos