Forum members picket outside court
Members of the Greater Nigel Economic Empowerment Forum braved the rain on Tuesday morning to picket outside the Nigel Magistrate's Court.
The members from Duduza and Alra Park townships were picketing to show their support to the six members who were arrested a month ago following the attacks against foreign tuck shop owners in Alra Park.
The suspects, who are all out on bail, appeared briefly in Court C facing a charge of malicious damage to property and their case was postponed to today (Friday).
According to Eric Dlamini, the forum’s convener, the forum was formed to claim back the businesses dominantly run by the foreign nationals, especially in the townships.
He says the forum does not promote xenophobia, but wants to ensure that South Africans do not struggle to make ends meet while those from the other countries take away what belongs to them.
He says the forum members are prepared to ensure that there are no tuck shops owned by the foreign nationals in Alra Park, just like they did in Duduza.
“All the tuck shops that were previously owned by the foreign nationals in Duduza closed down last year and the majority of them are now run by South Africans,” says Dlamini.
He added that the government should return all the foreigners residing in this country back to their countries.
Dlamini concludes by saying that they will continue supporting their members and also appealed to the communities of Duduza and Alra Park to also show their support to the six members.
