Community members of KwaNzimakwe have accused Chief Bhekizizwe Nzimakwe and his izindunas of taking money from illegal foreigners in the area, hence the reason for spaza shops being operated by them remaining open.

This was said by community members at a march supported by the March and March movement, from Ithongasi to KwaNzimakwe Traditional Authority Court on July 21.

In a memorandum handed over, March and March demanded that no spaza shops should remain open.

The Herald received reports of break-ins at spaza shops in KwaNzimakwe that community members were removing foreigners from the shops.

One of the community leaders, who did not wish to be named, confirmed on July 22 that people were going from shop to shop asking the foreigners to pack up and go.

Chairperson of March and March on the South Coast, Sabelo Cele, said an agreement had been reached with Nzimakwe and his board after a march on June 19 that the shops should be closed and that the foreigners had two days to leave.

According to Cele, after five days the chief had called him and informed him that he had told them (the foreigners) to reopen the shops. According to Nzimakwe, he allowed the shops to reopen because some community members were breaking in and looting.

Cele added the reason for the second march was to tell the illegal foreigners to leave now.

“We have asked them to leave using the protocols, but that has failed and as the chief said that the people brought them to KwaNzimakwe and therefore it’s the people’s responsibility to chase them away, so we are leaving everything in the hands of the people,” said Cele.

Nkosi Mkhize, an organiser of the march in KwaNzimakwe said that four meetings were held with the chief to try and sort out this issue, but the traditional authority was not willing to help.

On Tuesday, Mkhize told the chief that he must remove a certain advisor in the traditional house because he is destroying the community by taking money from the illegal foreigners.

However, Nzimakwe denied that he or his indunas are taking money from illegal foreigners.

Furthermore he added that he did not allow any foreigners on his land and that it was community members who allowed them to rent shops and places to stay.

“I never brought any foreigner, but they were brought by you (the community) and if they should be removed, they should be removed by the people they rent from.”

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