Cape town (Sunatimes) Armed South African gangs have shot and killed a prominent Somali cleric, who is also a businessman in East London, Eastern Cape region.

The deceased, Sheikh Abdullahi Abdulkadir Qorjarow, was shot on the head by unknown assailants on Wednesday afternoon in his shop.

Somali Association of South Africa chairman Abdirahman Raabi told Bar-kulan that Eastern Cape police are conducting investigations and major manhunt to arrest those behind the killing.

The incident comes a day after South African vice president Galema Motlante pledged to support and protects Somali refugees in his country.

Motlante noted the challenges faced by Somali refugees in South Africa who are braving indiscriminate killings in the country they sought to seek refuge.

The South African vice president was speaking at Eastern Cape, during a meeting aimed at reaching locals in persuading them against xenophobic attacks against Somali nationals in the country.

This is the second incident in which a Somali businessman was targeted by armed South African gangs during this month of Ramadan.

Earlier last week a similar incident occurred on the outskirt of Cape-town where businessman Ahmedey Mohamed was shot dead by armed South African gangs.

By Abdullahi Mohamed