Spaza Shops In Delft Close Early Amid Surge In Extortion And Killings

Rising violence and extortion targeting spaza shop owners in Delft have led local authorities to take action, urging businesses in the area to shut their doors by 9pm for their protection.

In response to escalating crime, the Delft police station sent out an urgent message last week to community WhatsApp groups, advising spaza shop owners to follow this precautionary measure.

The police stated that recent crime trends in the area, which include extortion , robberies, and fatal shootings, have put both shop owners and residents at risk.

Western Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, explained that the advisory was aimed at reducing crime, particularly as spaza shops are often targeted by criminals.

'These businesses face repeated threats, and unfortunately, some of these incidents have ended tragically, with fatalities among both shop owners and innocent customers,' Pojie said.