Petrol Jockey beaten to death

Cape Town - A petrol attendant died after he was allegedly assaulted with a plank by a motorist for refusing to fill up the man’s tank.

Lawrence Mandipazano was assaulted at about 6.40am on Tuesday at the Lentegeur Service Station in Mitchells Plain.

Dramatic footage captured by a CCTV camera shows the petrol attendant being beaten unconscious with a wooden plank.

Mandipazano, a 34-year-old Zimbabwean, lay in a heap as he was hit several times by an enraged motorist in Mitchells Plain. The Cape Argus saw footage taken of the attack on Mandipazano at the Lentegeur service station at about 6.40am on Tuesday.

Lawrence Mandipazano was beaten to death by an enraged motorist.
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In the footage, a man approaches Mandipazano and delivers several blows across his body and at one stage, holds the plank in both hands, raises it above his head and aggressively lunges at Mandipazano’s head.

Mandipazano, a father of two who had been living in Heinz Park with his wife, fled Zimbabwe in search of work, according to his brothers. He had worked at the station for six years.
petrol jockey

Lawrence Mandipazano was beaten to death by an enraged motorist.

CAPE ARGUS

The station’s manager said that what witnesses saw coincided with what was evident from footage:

* A green BMW pulls in to the service station.

* The driver, wearing a white peak cap, got out and told Mandipazano to put R100 worth of petrol in the tank.

* A woman was seated in the passenger side.

* The BMW driver walked to the ATM and then to the cashier.

* Mandipazano did not put petrol in the BMW as it was the station’s policy to accept money first, said the manager.

* Mandipazano proceeded to help another customer and when he was finished, took the customer’s payment to the cashier.

* He encountered the BMW driver at the cashier. The driver had bought cigarettes and paid for the petrol.

* The two men talked and the driver shoved Mandipazano. It is alleged the driver was angry because Mandipazano had not put petrol in the car.

* Mandipazano walked away and was seen rolling up petrol hoses at one of the tanks. The station manager said the driver demanded his money back and the cashier gave it to him.

* He continued to shout at Mandipazano and approached him at the tank, before the woman in the passenger seat intervened.

* The BMW drove off and Mandipazano was seen talking to fellow petrol attendants.

* Minutes later, the BMW driver returned, popped his boot and, armed with a plank, took a swipe at Mandipazano. The man continued to assault Mandipazano, who at one stage attempted to defend himself with a watering can.

* The woman from the passenger seat again intervened and the driver stopped. The pair drove off, leaving Mandipazano unconscious at the service station. He was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital and died on Wednesday night.

Provincial police spokesman Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the incident that took place in Merrydale Road.

Initially police were investigating a case of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. They are now investigating a murder case.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday night in connection with the murder and is expected to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court soon.

Relatives, staff and management at the station said they were still in shock after the incident.

“I cannot fathom that something like this has happened,” said the station manager.

Mandipazano’s wife was too traumatised to talk to the media and is living with relatives in Athlone.

Mandipazano has been described as an outspoken man who was very frank and well-loved by fellow staffers.

On Thursday, brothers Brighton and Rodgers Mandipazano said they wanted to take their brother’s body back to Zimbabwe for burial.

Rodgers said the situation was “hard to believe” and it had become difficult to trust people.

“We get scared of everyone now,” he said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Brits on 084 506 5713.

natasha.prince@inl.co.za

Cape Argus