Community mourns Belhar youth found dead in manhole

The man found dead in a wheelie bin which was dropped into a manhole in Belhar, is believed to have been killed by criminals known to him.

In August the Cape Argus sister publication, the Daily Voice told of the horrific incident in which a Belhar resident was found dead inside a manhole which was four meters deep.

A relative, who asked not to be named, said that the victim was 19-year-old Shawwaal Ely. 

According to the source, he disappeared from his home in Delft on August 22 wearing a black hoodie, black tracksuit pants, black and white takkies and a grey, white and navy blue beanie.

He was last seen alive leaving the street where he lives with three other men. 

The source said: “When Shawwaal disappeared I thought he wouldn’t have left the house willingly because these people have been harassing him for three weeks and he wouldn’t stay away from the house too long."

The source indicated that on the evening of August 22, Ely had first visited a neighbour home and another residence before meeting up with the men.

“He was then found dead. I think these people who did it were people who tried to get him to prove that he was part of another gang, but Shawwaal was not a gangster. 

“They tried to get him to shoot his own friend, but he refused.”

Ely's body was found on the corner of Adam Tas Avenue and Stellenbosch Arterial, in Belhar Extension 13, inside the manhole after emergency services were alerted by community members.

Ely, who leaves behind a three-year-old daughter, would have celebrated his 20th birthday this week and was described as a very jolly person.

The insider said: “He was quite a charmer especially with the girls, he was a very respectful child and he was a dancer. 

“He was not a perfect person, but he didn't deserve what they did to him.

"It is so heartbreaking because he was suppose to start working again the day after he was buried."

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