Pakistan shop owner denies threatening authorities, says an extorter was his target

The Pakistan shop owner, whose video of him allegedly threatening police and immigration officers caused an uproar on social media, has rejected the claims levelled against him.

In a meeting with the Joburg MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, the man claims he was actually speaking to a man who has been harassing the shop owners in Fordsburg for protection money.

There’s no country in this world that is disrespected like South Africa. South Africa Police Service & immigration officers have been warned not to go to Fordsburg by illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/QmYTxnDYvY

— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) October 11, 2023

He says they have been terrorised repeatedly by the specific individual, who threatened to kidnap their children and deport them back to their countries.

The shop owner says they now fear for their lives and businesses.

“He is creating problems for the whole community of Pakistan, it’s not just me, everybody is tired of him.

“He has hijacked a lot of businesses, he even uses someone who helps him with opening cases with police.”

The shop owner says the only way they survive being arrested is if they also bribe the police.

“We went to the police station and the police told us we cannot do anything, we even tried to get a protection order.”

He claims that people are scared of speaking out against this particular individual who works with police from different areas.

“I paid R100 000 last year to not have my child kidnapped. The last time, my child fractured her arm because she fell out of my hands when I was trying to protect her from him.

“That person is not a human being, this is not a human being, we can tell you that. A human being has a heart and a brain and will know when they are doing something wrong but this is not a human being.”

♦️Happening Now♦️

The Pakistani National from the viral video met with the MMC for Public Safety to clarify the statements he made on the video. pic.twitter.com/JUyFkqj01h

— COJ People’s MMC Public Safety (@PublicSafetyMMC) October 11, 2023

Police in Gauteng have, however, rubbished the shop owner’s claims.

They say the man was reacting  to Operation Shanela, which is aimed at getting rid of counterfeit and contraband goods.

Provincial SAPS Commissioner, Elias Mawela, says they will not be threatened in their bid to fight crime.