Local business owners in the city centre aired their opinions on statements controversial Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini made earlier this week.
Speaking at a moral regeneration event in Pongola, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Zwelithini said foreign nationals who stayed in the country should be deported back to their countries because of economic opportunities they took from South Africans.
“When you walk down the street you can’t recognise a shop you used to know because it had been taken over by foreigners who messed it up by hanging up rags,” he said.
President of the Tshwane informal traders council, Phillip Lethuba, said he did not agree with the king and that everyone had the same opportunities.
“What we do with those opportunities is up to us, nobody should be blamed if we messed it up for ourselves,” Lethuba said.
He said foreign nationals worked hard and the minority involved in criminal activities gave the rest a bad name.
“If any foreigner should be deported it should be those who deal in criminal activities. Government should do something about that.”
Business owner, Katlego Sithola said he agreed with Zwelithini and that South Africans competed with foreign business owners over scarce resources.
“Many people would rather use their services because of their cheap products,” Sithole said.
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