Young dad killed ‘over wine’

Zakeer Salie died of his injuries when he was assaulted in Blackbird Avenue.

The family of a young Parkwood father wants justice after he was allegedly assaulted over a dispute about alcohol and died as a result of his injuries.

Moegamat Zakier Salie, 22, died on his three-year-old daughter’s birthday on Monday July 25 from brain damage and swelling after he was attacked.

On Sunday July 24 Shakier, his wife Tasneem Sawyers and young daughter stopped at an acquaintance two blocks away from their home in Blackbird Avenue after buying alcohol.

Mr Salie was then solicited to share his wine with the acquaintances but he refused and was then struck in the stomach by one of the men accused of the assault.

In retaliation Mr Salie swore at the man and the suspect allegedly acquired the help of a couple of men to help attack him. He was badly assaulted and hit with a glass bottle and a cup.

His mother Shamielah Salie said her son was bleeding from his head when she saw him after the attack and they immediately took him to a hospital.

“He didn’t want to stay at the hospital and at the time we didn’t think his injuries were that serious so we left to come back home but that’s when I saw his mouth was going skew.”

The traumatised mother said they stopped in Eric’s Walk in Parkwood where he sat down and was assisted by bystanders as he lost consciousness.

The family then rushed him to Victoria Hospital but he died the day after the attack.

“His last words were him calling out to me but then he went into a coma. I can’t believe he’s dead and for what, wine? Even if my son swore at the person, they didn’t have to kill him in such a brutal way all on his own,” said Ms Salie.

Ms Sawyers said her child will now have to grow up without her father.

“The people who attacked him have to go to prison because it was nothing for them to take an innocent life all just because they wanted his wine. He wasn’t the one looking for trouble so they should stay in prison for what they did and to stop them from hurting more people.”

Grassy Park police spokesperson Captain Wynita Kleinsmith confirmed the incident and said a case of murder is being investigated.

Two men, a father and son, were arrested and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court last week and are out on bail. Another person who is suspected of being involved in the attack is on the run. Anyone with more information about the incident can call the police station on 021 700 3900 or 021 700 3902.