Herman Mashaba, the leader of Action SA, recently took to the streets of Jabulani, Soweto, to advocate for local ownership of spaza shops. This march, held on Wednesday, aimed to raise awareness around the contentious issue of foreign nationals running these small shops in South Africa, which have faced increasing scrutiny amidst rising public health concerns.
With a haunting reminder lingering from a tragic incident in Soweto where a grandmother and her grandchild reportedly lost their lives after consuming a soda from a spaza shop run by an immigrant, Mashaba’s call to action is resonating with those who have been affected by similar situations. “I want to say to our people stop calling these foreigners my friend,” Mashaba declared passionately. “They are not your friends, they’re your enemies; they are poisoning and killing our children. If you call them enemies, you will know not to buy from your enemy.”
His provocative words reflect a growing sentiment towards the increasing presence of foreign-run businesses in the country, as the political landscape increasingly grapples with immigration issues. Mashaba’s explicit call for South Africans to boycott shops owned by foreign nationals seeks to not only empower local entrepreneurs but also tap into rising anti-foreigner sentiments.
Despite facing criticism for the lack of attendee turnout at the march, Mashaba stood firm in his beliefs, asserting the importance of speaking out on pressing issues even if he stood alone. “It’s not only about the numbers. If you want to resolve an issue, someone has to speak out, someone has to do something about it, then it gets people talking,” Mashaba emphasised. His sentiments echo the frustration felt by many locals tired of foreign ownership in their neighbourhoods. “Through yourselves, there’s so many who are aware of this march now,” he added, highlighting the power of dialogue in driving change.
In a further push for local empowerment, Mashaba urged the South African government to exclude foreign nationals from the registration process for spaza shops, regardless of their legal status in the country. This statement underscores a growing call for safeguarding local businesses amidst claims that regulations have largely favoured foreign ownership.