Foreign shop owners flee Soweto

SOWETO residents yesterday woke up to find foreign shop owners gone and their stores closed following threats of xenophobic attacks.

Some shop owners had received letters that they had to leave Soweto by June 16. Those who had not left by that date had their shops looted in various parts of Soweto, such as Naledi and Mapetla. There was a heavy police presence all over Soweto with a water tank moving around.

A group describing themselves as Dudula were behind the planned raids on foreign nationals, who were allegedly in the country illegally and selling drugs. It is not clear when this group was formed, but they claimed that they were not affiliated to any political party.

They simply said they were cleaning up the township. Chants like “away with foreigners, away” could be heard. The group marched around Diepkloof, stopping at various hotspots where houses had been taken over by foreign nationals, where drugs were allegedly being used and prostitution taking place. South Africans being unemployed and human trafficking were among the issues the group cited.

They carried traditional weapons and sjamboks as they moved around the township, warning “illegal foreigners” to vacate within seven days.

The Star spoke to one of the organisers of this campaign, Peter Dimba, who said the campaign was not xenophobic. He said residents were simply doing what police were failing to do.

Dimba and the rest of the protesters marched to the Diepkloof police station, where one of their leaders was being held, allegedly for inciting violence against foreign nationals.

“We are not hijacking June 16. We are tired of talk shows. We are busy glorifying people who were there and some of them were cowards, but we want to make a change on this June 16. No one is touching tangible issues. We don’t want to know what happened in the past; they must tell us what happens today,” Dimba said.

Meanwhile, the veterans of the June 16 Foundation who condemned operation Dudula, and government officials held a commemorative event at the Hector Pieterson Museum in Orlando West, where a wreath-laying ceremony took place.

Speaking at the event, Thabo Ndabeni, a June 16 youth leader, said the youth of the current generation faced different challenges to his generation. But he cautioned the youth to respond to their challenges in a responsible manner.

“This day is important to us and we would like to keep it in the annals of history in being remembered for what it was: that people of the average age of 19 were able to go out on the street and fight for justice. Instead, the system of the day unleashed anger that was boiling over after years because of oppression and discrimination,” Ndabeni said.

Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo said youth unemployment was an issue that the City was trying its best to respond to. He said the City would be implementing programmes that would help with job creation despite the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic.

“The recent unemployment statistics pertaining to young people are a cause for concern. The government has, under the presidential youth employment intervention, initiated youth development and empowerment initiatives to support young people,” Makhubo said.