Chief Mayisa dismisses xenophobia statement
The Ethiopians informed Chief Mayisa that they were running away from the Somalis who were chasing them with guns.
LEBOHANG – Residents recently witnessed the fight between Somali and Ethiopian nationals in Lebohang Township during which some community members accused the municipality of perpetrating xenophobia.
Ridge Times visited Chief Mabuti Mayisa at his home to get his comment.
“I was approached by a small group of people at my home.
“Though they arrived together, there was a group of Somalis and another group of Ethiopians.”
The Ethiopians informed Chief Mayisa that they were running away from the Somalis who were chasing them with guns.
The two groups are said to be fighting over shops.
The Somalis said they arrived first in Lebohang and welcomed the Ethiopians in the area and also sold some of their shops to them.
The Somalis then apparently relocated to eMbalenhle to begin other businesses.
They then got chased from eMbalenhle and had to return to Lebohang where they wanted to operate through using force and also began to trouble the Ethiopians.
Chief Mayisa said after listening to both groups he then arranged a meeting with the police, ward councillors, municipal officials, community leaders and also the Ethiopians and Somalis.
That was said to be the first meeting to try to resolve the fight between the two groups.
The chief said during the meetings it was realised that the municipality should take the lead and try to enforce the bylaws in order to forge peace between the groups.
Chief Mayisa also mentioned that as the chief, he treats all community members equal and he loves them all but he cannot condone acts of violence.
Some residents said Mr Muhammad Hassen (known as Mr Abdul) is a very angry man who does not want to listen even when the municipality was telling him to stop building his shop.
Other community members have told the Ridge Times that they suspect that ward councillors are also involved in the fight because they benefit from the foreign nationals.
Residents are still adamant that the two foreign national groups are not treated the same.
“The municipality should inform us why only one shop is targeted because there are lots of shops without building plans and they are also not registered,” said one of the resident.
The stand where Mr Hassen shop is built was rumoured to be having no owner.
Ridge Times contacted Ms Thembi Chauke, owner of the stand.
Ms Chauke said she is trying to register the shop so that she can comply with the bylaws.
Govan Mbeki Municipality was contacted but no comment was received from them.
