Man called 'bin Laden' before fatal beating
2012-08-08 17:53
Johannesburg - A Muslim man has been beaten to death in Magaliesburg, allegedly by two people who insulted him because of his beard, a family friend said on Wednesday.
Mohammed Fayaaz Kazi, 27, from Ventersdorp, was with his father's friend Anser Mahmood when they were attacked at a Chicken Licken outlet on Monday.
"Two white people... they called him [Osama] bin Laden in Afrikaans because of his beard...and then they called us kaffirs," Mahmood told Sapa by telephone on Wednesday.
"Fayaaz, he understood Afrikaans, and was arguing with them."
All four were thrown out of the fast food shop, and the fight continued outside.
"I asked why they were troubling him and he punched me," Mahmood, 33, said.
"I don't know what he hit me with. I was unconscious."
Mahmood was mostly hit in the face, while Kazi was beaten over the head. He said he did not know what object was used to attack Kazi as he was lying on his side.
Nobody helped
"Nobody helps us. They wanted me dead also, but I survived."
Kazi was transferred from one hospital to another before dying at a medical facility in Potchefstroom from brain damage. His funeral was held on Tuesday.
Mahmood said a murder docket had been opened at the Potchefstroom police station.
Police spokesperson Captain Tselane Nkale said a case was only opened after the man died. She said the docket was sent to Magaliesburg police station as that was where the fight took place.
North West police spokesperson Brigadier Thulani Ngubani said the case had not yet been assigned as they were trying to determine under whose jurisdiction it fell.
Part of Magaliesburg fell under Gauteng, and police still had to determine in which section the Chicken Licken was located.
Ngubani said Kazi and Mahmood were heading towards Ventersdorp on Monday when they stopped for food.
"The two had purchased their food when two Afrikaner men began making fun of his beard."
The initial case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm was changed to murder.
Bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, which the United States claimed was responsible for the 11 September 2001, suicide attacks on the country. US soldiers killed him in Pakistan on 2 May 2011.
- SAPA
