Delft mother shot after her father’s refusal to pay protection fees

Lisanda Sondlo’s family is heartbroken after the 22-year-old mother from Delft South was killed for protection on Friday night.

Sondlo was walking home around 8pm with her seven-year-old brother and had purchased meat to eat at the braai stands on the corner of Tallis Street, when she was gunned down. The young woman was shot just a door away from where her father lives and just metres from her family home.

The heartbroken father said he has been selling beers for three years, but recently he has been threatened for protection fees.

The man explained: “Three weeks ago, six guys came to my house, three came to my door and another three were waiting outside in an Avanza demanding protection fees.

“They said that if I do not pay, they will kill me, my daughter and my family. They said that they know where I live, where my daughter stays, where my family stays and who my friends are. They said they know everything about me.

“I told them I am not paying, they can rather kill me. I told them to point the gun to my face and shoot me but they did not. I have a family to provide for, children to take care of, everyone is depending on me.

“I said no, because if I pay them one time then they are going to keep coming back and what happens when I don’t have the amount of money they are looking for, because some days are slow.

“Just before the incident happened, I gave her money to buy food to eat. I was standing in the yard talking to someone when I heard multiple gunshots go off.

The man who cannot be identified due to safety concerns said his life is now also in danger: "We ran inside and as I was about to lock, my seven year old son came calling ‘Daddy, Daddy, Lisa has been shot'.

“When I went outside, I saw some guys running away and my daughter was lying in the road covered in blood. When I got to her, she was already gone, I just embraced her.

“I am fearing for my life and my family’s life because if I can find a job then I will stop selling beers but this is our only means of income.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that a murder case was registered for investigation.

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Cape Argus