Thursday March 21, 2019
“I always give them two litres of paraffin for burning tyres during protests”
During protests in Kwathema, last week, immigrants were terrorised
and their shops looted. Some immigrant shops have remained closed.
Somali shop owner Boyca Ahmed says he pays for “protection” during
protests by giving cash, cooldrinks and paraffin to protesters.
“Those who do not contribute do not have protection during the
protest and their shops get broken into,” says Ahmed, who is 29 years
old and came to the area in November 2018.
“They broke into my shop four times before l started contributing
cold drinks and paraffin for the protests. I always give them two litres
of paraffin for burning tyres during protests. On top of that l give
them a crate of 18 cold drinks and another crate of energy drinks.”
Ahmed says he also pays a total of R4,000 a month to two men who “protect” and give him information whenever looting is planned.
“I can say that l am a lucky man. No one touches me or my stock now,” he says.
The community of Extension 3 is planning a protest next week. Boyca
Ahmed says he already has some paraffin and drinks to give to the
planners of the protest.
Unprotected shop owners
On 8 March, Thuso Johannes Mamkwe, according to Kwathema police,was
shot in the neck in a confrontation with an “Ethiopian national” and
died. The Ethiopian fled and the community looted the shop, according to
police. Three cartridges were found at the scene. No arrests have been
made.
Last week, a mob torched the shop of “Joseph” (surname unknown), a Somali shopkeeper.
“Joseph” had a nine-year lease with Zongole Mjoli, agreed in 2016.
Mjoli said that last week he was awoken at night by stones smashing
his windows and landing on top of the roof of his shack in Extension 3,
Kwathema.
“Everyone knows that when stones are thrown on top of the roof … a mob has come knocking,” said Mjoli.
“It was terrifying. Voices were shouting that they had come for the
Somali man, who was running a shop on my yard. Some were chanting,
demanding that l open my gate.”
Luckily, police had taken “Joseph” to safety earlier that day.
Mjoli said the mob broke into the shop and looted what they could.
They stripped the metal shelves and doors. Then they poured paraffin and
set a match to what remained.
The fire department extinguished the fire, but much of the stock had already been incinerated.
“Joseph” had nothing to do with the shooting, said Mjoli.
“I do not not know if he will come back because he is no longer
answering my calls. The money which l got from renting the shop to him
was my only source of livelihood as l am unemployed,” he said.
“The sad thing about Joseph is that his family back home sold their
house in Somalia to pay for his business,” says Ahmed. “He had been
paying rent for his family back home monthly with proceeds from his
shop. Now that his stock has been destroyed life has become difficult
for not only him but his family in Somalia.”
Ahmed says the Somali community is putting money together to try and help “Joseph”.
Community protests ongoing
“Immigrant shop owners are caught up in the middle because people are
trying to catch the attention of the government,” said resident Nurse
Mota.
”We have been living in shacks since 2007. Although we now have
electricity and toilets, we still do not have houses,” said resident
Mthunzi Msezane.
The community has held protests every two weeks for the past three months.
“The most frustrating thing is that the municipality switches off our
electricity and water asking us to pay rent. When we go to the office
to pay rent they give us utility bills which are under other people’s
names. We want our houses to be registered in our names. How can l pay
rent for a stand that does not belong to me?” asked Msezane.
Mota said, “My stand is registered under Mphahleli. I don’t know who that is.”
Msezane says he does not know why people loot when the protests are not about immigrant shop owners.
“I feel sorry for the Somalis,” says South African fruit and
vegetable vendor Smangaloso Mbaso,” because if they do not give the
planners what they want their shops are looted.”
“No one will dare loot my vegetables,” he says. “We do not even know
who plans the protests. The protests start anytime and we are not even
told. “