Shaka’s Head xenophobia, or just crime?

The situation in Shaka’s Head, outside Ballito, where reported xenophobic attacks broke out on Tuesday night, is calm.

Lt Col Dieter Fittkau of Umhlali SAPS said reports of what happened last night in Shaka’s Head were exaggerated.

He said no Somali shops were burnt, but responding to intelligence of an imminent threat, the foreign nationals evacuated their shops under police protection.

On Wednesday many foreign owned shops were abandoned and closed, but there were no signs of violence.

Shaka’s Head ward councillor, Jetro Banda, warned Somali and Ethiopian shop owners of the possibility of planned attacks and suggested they leave for safety reasons.

“My life comes first; if I am dead, I can not work so it is better that I leave,” said Ethiopian shop owner, Solomon Womago who was attacked last night by two men armed with guns, who cut off his shop’s power supply before trying to rob him.

He said they were all taking their stock to Stanger and will stay there until it is safe to come back.

Some of the shop owners have just stocked up on perishables like bread, fruit and vegetables and face further financial losses when these products go off.

South African shop owner Mathews Moloantoa lets his building to a foreign national who evacuated his shop and removed all the stock on Tuesday night.

Moloantoa said he will have to find another tenant if the situation does not improve.

Fittkau said the attacks might not be xenophobic but just a result of normal criminal activity.

He said the police are investigating the possibility that opportunistic criminals in Shaka’s Head are using the xenophobic violence in Durban as an excuse to commit crimes in the area.

Cllr Banda said he condemned the violence and South Africa as a country should condemn such acts as well.