Call for EMPD to act on threats
Shop owner claims to have received multiple threats telling him to close his shop.
MMC of Community Safety in Ekurhuleni Sizakele Masuku called on the EMPD to deal decisively with threats of violence directed at the spaza shop owners in the townships.
Masuku gave the directive to the EMPD after a brief visit on May 7 to Thulani Khumalo, a spaza shop owner. He allegedly received life-threatening messages from other traders, suspected to be foreign nationals.
Khumalo claims he has received these threats from unknown people telling him to close down his shop “or else his life would be in danger”.
Last week, unknown people shot one of Khumalo’s friends as he was leaving the former’s shop. Khumalo says he and his family now live in fear because suspicious armed characters in various cars still ask for him at his home and shop.
“This is unacceptable. SA promotes free trade, and everyone entering this space must be allowed to do business and have a shot at the market. We cannot sit back and allow these threats as a municipality. The EMPD must act swiftly and ensure those behind this are locked up,” says Masuku.
She added that they would take precautionary measures to protect the Khumalos.
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