A Tanzanian businessman has died in South Africa from injuries sustained during attacks by some Indian businessmen allegedly out to settle scores in a deal involving ’fake dollars.’
The Tanzania businessman was attacked in Johannesburg, and that the body of the deceased was flown into Dar es Salaam on Tuesday night, ready for burial in Marangu, Kilimanjaro.
But there are contradicting reports from relatives, who positively identified the dead man as Arnold Komasho, saying he was a ’’victim of a robbery attempt’’ by people who were allegedly after his car which they claim is now under police custody back in South Africa.
A Mr Pito Komasho, who introduced himself to THISDAY as younger brother to the late businessman, said Arnold was interim chairperson of the Tanzanian community in South Africa. He gave no further details on the circumstances surrounding the killing of his brother.
However, sources from South Africa claimed that the man who acquired South African citizenship through marriage, was for a long time involved in ’’money-changing deals’’ in which he bundled together heaps of fake dollar notes, and placing one genuine note on top and another at the bottom.
According to sources, the incident occurred last Saturday as he and another associate went to the Mayfair area in Johannesburg, where they had made a prior arrangement to ’exchange’ some money with some Indian shopkeepers. It is reported that the Indians, aware of his antics, were ready to pounce on him.
Reports say the dead man would exchange thousands of fake dollars, but strangely he would go back to the same neighborhood shops - all owned by Indians-and they had now marked him.
His days were numbered. This time he went to the shop in the company of his associate, known by the name of Msomali. He told Msomali to stay in the car while he went inside to negotiate the fateful deal. He disappeared inside the shop and to his attackers who are reported to have used things like golf clubs to smash his skull.
It is said that after he fell unconscious, the attackers went outside to the parked car and started beating up Msomali himself. He also sustained head injuries and his head was rolled in bandages when he went to send off the body. Details of what transpired after the beating were not immediately clear, but it is understood that the businessman did not regain consciousness until he died in hospital later.
It was also not known whether the incident was reported to the police because Msomali, who was the only witness, was reluctant to go to the police because of the nature of their illegal deals.
According to the sources there was also an incident at the mortuary as the deceased’s South African wife wanted to stop the body from being transported to Tanzania for burial insisting that he should be buried in Johannesburg so his two children can see and take care of his grave.
Eventually they struck a compromise and the body was loaded onto Air Tanzania flight to Dar es Salaam and later to Kilimanjaro for burial.
It is reported that the deceased through his illegal business, had purchased a house in Randburg one of Johannesburg’s posh northern suburbs, dishing out 80,000 rands cash, and the remaining was to be paid through mortgage installments.
He is also reported to have built another posh one-storeyed house at Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, also from proceeds of his money changing business.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s brother is said to be living in Cape Town and is involved in selling of drugs - a trade which is claimed to have made him a rand millionaire.
Hundreds of youths are roaming the streets of big cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban seeking buyers for the drugs. Some of the buyers are said to be policemen, which is proving to be a big boost for the illegal trade.
It is understood that some of the Tanzanian youth who gathered to make arrangements to transport the body to Tanzania were infuriated by the killing, and had wanted to go to the shop where the businessman was assaulted with an intention of setting it on fire. Msomali however, refused to show them the shop for fear of further reprisals.
The Tanzania High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Emmanuel Mwambulukutu, has meanwhile expressed serious concern about Tanzanians living illegally in the country and who were engaged in criminal activities.
He told this newspaper that in Cape Town he saw shacks under a bridge set up by Tanzanian youths. He said many of them were involved in petty crimes like smashing car windows and stealing radios, women’s handbags etc, and had become a huge embarrassment to Tanzania.
Mr. Mwambulukutu said he was preparing to approach the government in order to help in the repatriation of the youth to save the country further embarrassment. At least 15 or so youths are flown home every two weeks at the expense of the South African government, and the high commissioner urged the youth to avoid the temptation of going to South Africa as life there is not what it appears from the outside.
