News / Africa
Zimbabwean petrol attendant beaten to death in South Africa
07 Jun 2013 at 11:17hrs | Views
Cape Town - A man will appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court soon in connection with the death of a petrol attendant who was beaten with a wooden plank, the Cape Argus reported on Friday.
Mandipazano, a father of two who had been living in Heinz Park with his wife, fled Zimbabwe in search of work, according to his brothers. He had worked at the station for six years.
The newspaper reported that Lawrence Mandipazano, 34, was hit several times by an enraged motorist at a Lentegeur service station on Tuesday morning.
Camera footage reportedly shows a motorist getting upset with Mandipazano when he did not fill his car up with petrol, because the station policy was to accept money first.
The driver paid for the petrol, exchanged words with the attendant, drove off, and then returned with a plank in his car boot.
He reportedly assaulted Mandipazano, who tried defending himself with a watering can.
Mandipazano was taken to hospital and died on Wednesday night.
Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk was quoted as saying that a 30-year-old man was arrested the night of Mandipazano's death and would appear in court soon.
Mandipazano's wife was too traumatised to talk to the media and is living with relatives in Athlone.
Mandipazano has been described as an outspoken man who was very frank and well-loved by fellow staffers.
On Thursday, brothers Brighton and Rodgers Mandipazano said they wanted to take their brother's body back to Zimbabwe for burial.
Mandipazano, a father of two who had been living in Heinz Park with his wife, fled Zimbabwe in search of work, according to his brothers. He had worked at the station for six years.
The newspaper reported that Lawrence Mandipazano, 34, was hit several times by an enraged motorist at a Lentegeur service station on Tuesday morning.
Camera footage reportedly shows a motorist getting upset with Mandipazano when he did not fill his car up with petrol, because the station policy was to accept money first.
The driver paid for the petrol, exchanged words with the attendant, drove off, and then returned with a plank in his car boot.
He reportedly assaulted Mandipazano, who tried defending himself with a watering can.
Mandipazano was taken to hospital and died on Wednesday night.
Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk was quoted as saying that a 30-year-old man was arrested the night of Mandipazano's death and would appear in court soon.
Mandipazano's wife was too traumatised to talk to the media and is living with relatives in Athlone.
Mandipazano has been described as an outspoken man who was very frank and well-loved by fellow staffers.
On Thursday, brothers Brighton and Rodgers Mandipazano said they wanted to take their brother's body back to Zimbabwe for burial.
Source - Sapa
