Emotions run high in Soweto

Emotions ran high in Soweto today, where residents returned to the Jabulani Civic Centre in a bid to stop foreign spaza shop owners from registering their businesses as per President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 21-day ultimatum for them to register or face closure.

Amid claims that some South Africans were at the centre to register businesses on behalf of the foreign shop owners, angry community members chased the police and the Crime Prevention Wardens away from the Civic Centre in Jabulani.

The residents were barring migrants from complying with municipal by-laws to operate a tuck-shop for a second day following the President’s Friday address.

The centre is where all spaza shops in Soweto are supposed to be registered.

The picketers are accusing the police of colluding with foreign nationals and taking bribes from them.

They say the police fail to arrive when South Africans need them but are quick come to the aid of foreign nationals.

Others have accused the President of putting foreign interest ahead of those of South Africans.

Protestors also accused the Environmental Health Services officials of selling out their own, accusing them of smuggling registration forms to foreign nationals to get their shops registered at a fee.

The residents say they are disappointed by some South Africans who used their identities to assist the business owners.

SOUTH AFRICANS CAUGHT FRONTING FOR FOREIGNERS
S42 of immigration act 13 of 2002 says helping or abetting illegal immigrants is a crime. OD and community members in Jabulani confronted some South Africans who were registering on behalf of foreigners.

— Dudula News (@PatrioticMedia1) November 19, 2024

Yesterday the offices could not operate due to a picket by several organisations, blocking the foreign nationals from adhering to the stipulations set out by government.

The furore comes as the country reels from the high number of cases of food poisoning that claimed the lives of 22 children in October alone.

Since September, more than 890 incidents of food-borne illnesses have been reported nationwide, with Gauteng recording the most cases.

In the latest incident, nine children in Mossel Bay, Western Cape landed up in hospital after they shared chips bought from a spaza shop.

They have since been discharged.

Earlier, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, announced that 70 registration points have been set up across the province for spaza shop operators to register their businesses.

During a media briefing in Joburg, Maile outlined the requirements that spaza shop operators will need to comply with the law.

GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT’S REGISTRATION OF SPAZA SHOPS

There are various requirements that need to be met to ensure the successful registration of spaza shops.

These included a correctly filed application form that provides personal and business details; a certified and… pic.twitter.com/NtiE5VefFw

— Lebogang Maile (@LebogangMaile1) November 19, 2024

Meawhile, South Africans are still up in arms on social media about the food poisoning scourge that has parents fearing for the lives of their young ones.

@FloydShivambu …why is MK quite about food poisoning of our children..now people are saying we are working with illegal immigrants ..can u plz respond to that. The quietness is too loud.

— Akhani Ngconde (@Akhani34940341) November 19, 2024

Pres Ramaphosa’s term of office
1.COVID 19
2. Loss of voting votes
3.Water & sanitation especially in GP
4. Floods
5. Food poisoning
6. Illegal foreigners governing the country
7. Post offices closed
8. Phalaphala Scandal
9. Extortion & kidnapping, saps lost crime prevention

— Phefeni boys (@LungeloLuke) November 19, 2024

Here in South Africa is not a big day. Children are dying of food poisoning

— Busisiwe Msomi (@BusisiweMs10815) November 19, 2024

We should call in and grill this woman on why they’re selective of cases to speak on. A week ago they were mute about food poisoning and toddlers dying. Especially this incompetent Khwinana suggesting that illegal miners are not criminals.

— THE GUY (@TshepoTheGuy) November 19, 2024

I am afraid if the ANC doesn’t address the issues related to spaza shops and food poisoning this will be the end of it in the same way the Eff is dying by embracing porous border.

— Sol (@malandelalanga) November 19, 2024

Where else can criminals go to except South Africa

We have laxed bounders
We have Zama Zamas
We have Fake Asylum seekers
We have Food poisoning firms
We have an Anti law justice system
We have NGO’s promoting lawlessness
We have the constitution which promotes everything

— hulisa DPA (@HulisaP) November 19, 2024

Why is @afriforum so quite about food poisoning issues?

But when 1 farmer is murder they talk.

Where is #StrongerBetterTogether #nodnajustrsa #BokFriday pic.twitter.com/JXfDTx0EFY

— Tisetso Percy Modiselle (@percymod) November 19, 2024

A competent Ministry of Health can easily sort out the issue of toxic food

It’s not a immigration issue.

Europe takes more immigrants than SA but food poisoning in not an issue becoz of solid health structures.

The real fight is why you people think its an immigration issue?

— Time Traveller (@Totutuma) November 19, 2024