Community in stand-off with Somali shopkeeper – not xenophobia

The Davidsonville community says they will not allow a Somali national to operate his shop, because they prefer his partner.

The two Somali shopkeepers are currently partners in the shop, but one of them now wants to buy the other out. The business feud has now spiraled so far out of control that he and four other men allegedly went with firearms to threaten the business partner on Sunday in order to get him to sell his share of the shop. He was arrested but was released on Tuesday after his partner withdrew the case at the behest of the Somali elders.

Members of the community said they would not have any of it and want the partner who was arrested to sell his shares. Christebell Pienna, a community leader, said they will not “tolerate any gangster manners in their community”. “We will not have men waving guns in front of our children. I also want to make it very clear that this is not a case of xenophobia. The opposite is true – the whole community is standing behind his partner. These people will not come and tell us what should and should not happen in our community,” she said yesterday, while a 100-odd residents gathered in front of the store to protest.

This afternoon the two business partners will meet to decide which one should sell his shares. Pienna said if the outcome is not favourable for the community, they will take further action.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine

Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!