KILLED FOR SAYING NO

THE man found dead in a wheelie bin dropped in a manhole in Belhar last month is believed to have been killed by skollies known to him.

The Daily Voice previously reported on the incident (Man found dead in Belhar manhole, 25 August 2025) that a resident was found dead four metres down the hole on 23 August.

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

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

“Past 10 on Friday evening [22 August], he left to go to the neighbour and from there he went to a house on the other corner. 

“There he was approached by three guys and left with them.

“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.”

His body was found in a manhole on the corner of Adam Tas Avenue and Stellenbosch Arterial, in Belhar Extension 13 after emergency services were alerted by community members at 3.30pm.

Ely, who leaves behind a three-year-old daughter, would have celebrated his 20th birthday this week (2 October), was described as a very jolly people's 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."

The resident added that no arrests have been made yet. The Daily Voice reached out to SAPS for a comment but were advised that a response will be given when the investigating officers are available.