Anti-immigrant pressure group has rejected the government’s proposed intervention in the Spaza shop sector aimed at curbing deaths caused by contaminated food.
The pressure group held demonstrations in Jabulani, Soweto on Monday and said the entire township economy should be reserved exclusively for South Africans.
The protest was in response to President Cyril’s Friday address in which he directed Spaza Shops to register in terms of the law of the land.
Ramaphosa also revealed the government has set aside R 500 million to curb deaths resulting from consumption of contaminated food bought from spaza shops.
Spaza Shops across South Africa have over the years been taken over by foreign nationals who have out-priced locals.
Che Serobedi, the Deputy National Organiser at Dudula said the money ( R 500 000 announced by Ramaphosa) should be channeled towards locals arguing majority of foreigners do not even qualify to run businesses.
“ there was a foreign national here and I asked him what papers did he use to come to South Africa and he said asylum seekers permit. Those kind of permits are only allow people into the country on the basis that there’s war where they come from, femine and those things so when they’re here they must be hosted by the government not doing business,” said Serobedi.
Spaza Shop owners have raised concern that the 21 days period set by the government is not enough and the City of Joburg said it noted the issues brought by the traders and encouraged them to come forward nevertheless.
Nthatisi Modingoane, the spokesperson at the City of Joburg said since last week Spaza Shop traders have been coming forward but cautioned the city was still in the initial phase of auditing Souza Shops and that those who have come forward were urged to not misconstrue their being placed on a list to mean that they passed the compliance test.
“As early as last week we have had tuck shop owners coming forward and we have been recording their details so as to establish as to how many spaza shops we are dealing with so this phase must not be misconstrued to mean people are compliant,” he said.
Spaza shops continue to operate across Gaugteng with those owned by foreigners occasionally closing to evade raids by the departments of labour and home affairs.
