Thokoza residents give migrants 72 hours to leave the township

Some Thokoza residents have given foreign-owned spaza shops 72 hours to vacate or face a forced community shutdown. 

The aggrieved residents marched to their local police station, demanding the closure of foreign-owned spaza shops which they’ve accused of selling expired goods. 

As pressure across Gauteng mounts on migrants to close shop, concerns remain over the vacuum that their closure may create in the township economy. 

However, young community activist, Siyabonga Hlathi, believes the problem can be solved by government making money available for young people to open their own spaza shops. 

He says with the necessary backing, young people are capable of growing the local economy. 

“Young people are more than ready to open their own spaza shops, but only if government can make resources available for them. We are unemployed and just need the capital,” he said. 

Police fired teargas in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.  

YNews spoke with a group of women as they ran for cover. 

They’ve slammed the heavy-handed approach of authorities. 

“We were peacefully marching, and the police shot us with teargas. We were doing nothing wrong, why did they shoot us?” asked one woman. 

At the back of the clashes, Thokoza residents have questioned the haste at which police resources were mobilised against them. 

They say it is unfortunate that the police don’t use the same energy, when it comes to addressing crime.

“Criminals are loitering around but there are no police available. There are cash-in-transits and drugs circulating in the community but somehow, we are a threat,” said Hlathi. 

“The audacity of police throwing teargas at our faces, when this was a peaceful march,” said another demonstrator. 

The protesters were demanding the shutdown of foreign owned spaza’s, which they’ve blamed for the recent spate in food poisoning deaths in the province, which has claimed the lives of more than 20 children. 

Many store owners abandoned their shops, fearing intimidation. 

At the same time several rights groups, including the Lawyers for Human Rights, say it’s unconstitutional for communities to target only migrant owned spaza shops. 

They say communities should focus on government’s failure to ensure health and safety compliance at all food stores.