Shooting sparks shut-down of foreign-owned spazas

Parts of Soweto have been plunged into a wave of Operation Dudula-sponsored closures of spaza shops operated by foreign nationals following the shooting of a 21-year-old Soweto resident. The resident was allegedly shot and wounded by a Pakistani shop owner in White City Jabavu, says a report in The Star. It was reported that a group of about 50 people, comprising members of Operation Dudula and the Patriotic Alliance, raided migrant-owned shops in Soweto after the shooting of the man. According to Operation Dudula, the resident was identified as Lusanda Ngxongo, who is reported to be recovering at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Following the incident, Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula responded through a mass campaign that saw foreign-operated spaza shops being closed down. Ngxongo was shot on Saturday and, according to crime activist Yusuf Abramjee, tensions have since the beginning of the week been running high in parts of Soweto. He said some White City locals had targeted foreign nationals – removing them from their shops. ‘The community has called for foreign nationals to immediately leave their township after a shop owner shot and wounded a local resident,’ said Abramjee. Refilwe Mathe of Operation Dudula said: ‘As Operation Dudula, we are appalled and demand the immediate arrest of the Pakistani criminal who pulled the trigger. Until our demands are met, we shall continue to shut down all Pakistani-run businesses starting in White City Jabavu.’

Media reports have suggested that more than 30 spaza shops have been shut down by the operation, with the movement saying it would continue with these operations until their demands had been met, notes The Star. Soweto police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed Moroka police had arrested a suspect following a shooting incident which took place in White City at the weekend. She added that the injured person was taken to hospital where he was in a stable condition. ‘Police have since opened an attempted murder docket. As a result of the shooting incident, Moroka police together with JMPD members have been monitoring the situation at White City following allegations of shops being closed. At this stage, no shops were closed and no injuries reported. The possibility of further arrests cannot be ruled out.' Kweza added: ‘Police had discussion with community leaders and continue to monitor the situation.'

Full report in The Star