By Celani Sikhakhane
- ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba wants the government to send soldiers to take weapons from some spaza shop owners who threaten locals with guns.
- The party is pushing for a new law to give South Africans control of the R200-billion township shop economy.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba wants the army to raid township spaza shops and confiscate guns from owners who are threatening locals challenging their businesses.
Mashaba made the call while visiting spaza shops in KwaMashu, Durban, on Monday.
He says the government must act after some shop owners threatened to fight locals shutting their shops following children’s deaths from poisoned food.
“Government must urgently intervene and shut down all spaza shops owned by foreign nationals to prevent any further deaths due to incidents of food poisoning that have mostly affected children,” he said.
Touring shops in Siyanda township with KZN chairperson Zwakele Mncwango and MP Lerato Ngobeni, Mashaba spoke about a new Spaza Shop Bill to control foreign-owned shops.
Ngobeni said the bill aims to give locals full control of the R200-billion spaza shop economy and create jobs for South Africans.
Local spaza owner Mzimkhulu Gama said reducing the number of illegal foreign shop owners would help local businesses rebuild and support communities, as they did during apartheid.
President Cyril Ramaphosa told eThekwini residents on Friday that the government will regulate spaza shops and address food poisoning.
Pictured above: ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba took his fight against illegal foreigners’ spaza shops owned to Durban Townships.
Source: Supplied
