Let’s show Ubuntu to foreign nationals and respect their businesses
Community urged to stop violence against foreign businesses.
Every year, more and more people arrive in the country from all over the world. It has become a very attractive destination, with its amazing landscapes, the way of life and growing business environment.
Today, a lot of spaza shops in Soweto are owned and run by our brothers from foreigners countries.
Many of these spaza-shops-owners have rented land whilst others leased property from landlords in various communities. Recent reports suggest that these businessmen are being targeted by thugs.
One of the shopkeepers, David Erabosino, who manages a shop in Chiawelo at Corner Mhinga and Dingaan Street feels very unsafe. He said people impersonating or pretending to be government officials often come to his shop and rummage fridges not knowing what they want.
He said: “They also wanted to gain entry to my office claiming to inspect the place and I suspect that robbery may be the motive. One unknown guy came in saying he is a government representative and before I came to realise, the man had fled with my cellphone,” said Erabosino.
Erabosino again said a lady who pretended to be a health inspector came to check on the refrigerators and claimed that the building was not safe before attempting to steal from him.
A MACHIPI-SEPHIMA local leader and politician, Moalosi Mathopa said: “We do not have a problem with foreign businesses. Their aim is to sell goods to the community like any other business.
“However, they should not sell cigarettes to an underage person, especially school going children. My advice to them is that only the SAPS personnel can come to them at any time to make inspections.
“Any person who comes and claims to be a police officer must produce an identification and explain his or her intentions.
“If they don’t produce the identification, shopkeepers can lock them up in the shop and call the police,” said Mathopa.
He said as long as they do not sell drugs or illegal substances, the community won’t have a problem with them. He urged the community to stop abusing these shopkeepers.
