A store which has been closed for months due to attacks and vandalism where half of the stock was taken and the owner given a fierce beating has re-opened.
Over the years we have seen stores owned by foreign nationals talking over in our country, especially townships, cities and villages and providing us with the resources we need from time-to-time. Many South Africans are not happy with these foreign stores and this has led to criminal activities such as vandalism, looting and assault of foreign nationals.
Mashashane SAPS says over 5 cases of foreign stores attacks has been reported in the past month around Mashashane. It seems like there is a group of people doing rounds in Mashashane attacking these stores. Mashashane Police paid visits to these affected stores resulting in a few closing for days. Talking to the owner of the store that has just been re-opened, he says that he is going to be very careful this time, even showed us where he has been fixing to tighten the security.
Speaking to Strictly Mashashane Ndona Teffo said, "This is illegal. This is not xenophobia at all. It it not only unacceptable in South Africa, but in all law-abiding democratic countries".
"All criminal activities and looting of property of foreign nationals will not be tolerated.the police and other law-enforcement must act without fear of favour".says Officer Seleka.
No body has been arrested as yet.
Jobs seem to be the main issue, with people believing that foreign nationals are taking jobs from them, also complaining about foreigners working in South Africa where unemployment is painfully high - expected to be 35.80% by the end of this quarter.
Attacks have mainly taken place in large cities, but they have also been reported in smaller towns and rural areas with the time and today, highly reported in the rurals of Mashashane in Polokwane.
About 70% of foreigners in South Africa come from neighbouring Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.
The remaining 30% is made up of people from Malawi, UK, Namibia, eSwatini previously known as Swaziland, India and other countries. There are an estimated 3.7 million migrats in the country.
SA experienced it's worst outbreak of violence against foreigners in 2008 where more than 60 lives were lost. Who knows how much lives lost since then ?
Foreign stores are still under attack, from time to time. Can this be because South Africans hasn't approved their stay or is it just pure criminal activities?