A shocking incident occurred at a shopping centre in Ha-Thamae on Friday morning, where an innocent security guard was shot in the leg during a chaotic confrontation involving a local radio presenter.
According to an account from one of the victims and his friend, six men had been drinking at a bar near the shopping centre earlier in the evening. At some point, they went to buy food from a nearby fast-food outlet. While they were eating, a man known to them as a neighbour who is reportedly mentally unstable approached and began eating their food without permission.
The victim said he attempted to speak to the man, but the individual grabbed the food container and ran off. The victim and one friend chased him, while the remaining four stayed behind at the restaurant.
The man allegedly ran into the yard of a nearby radio station. As the two men entered the premises in pursuit, a vehicle suddenly arrived and stopped near the station gate. A man later identified as Abiele Sebolai, a presenter at Tsenolo FM, reportedly exited the vehicle holding a firearm and began chasing them.
The victim said he and his friend immediately fled back towards the shopping centre, with Sebolai allegedly pursuing them while armed. While running, the victim looked back and saw Sebolai pointing the firearm directly at him. He then changed direction and ran towards a nearby donga.
Moments later, shots were fired. One of the bullets struck an innocent security guard who was sweeping outside his workplace at the shopping centre. The guard, who had no involvement in the earlier events, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.
After the shooting, Sebolai is said to have stopped the chase and transported the injured security guard to hospital. When questioned about why he had pursued the men while armed, Sebolai allegedly claimed that he was attempting to stop a fight between the two individuals.
At the time of publication, Abiele Sebolai had not yet been arrested, and it remains unclear whether any formal charges have been laid.
