Foreigners should not be granted shop permit – Operation Dudula
Operation Dudula members block foreigners from accessing the service centre premises to register their spaza businesses.
Members of Operation Dudula led a picket outside the service centre in Jabulani, which has been ongoing since Monday, November 18.
This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that all spaza shops will be given 21 days in which to register their businesses with their respective municipalities.
Speaking to Urban News, Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula said they want to block foreign nationals from accessing the service centre premises because they don’t want them to get trading permits.
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“The spaza shop industry needs to be reserved for South Africans, this industry is for locals, so here today we want to make sure that no foreigner will get a permit to trade in spaza shops, but most importantly we want people to now start respecting the laws of this country,” she said.
Dabula claimed that some foreign nationals illegally operating spaza shops contribute to crime, alleging these shops are linked to incidents of violence, child harm, and unsafe food.
“I’m not happy with the government’s response in this matter, we can see that he is trying to shift blame but we all know that the food that is killing our children comes from the foreign-owned spaza shops.
“The government was so quick to close the informal traders such as street vendors that sell in schools but couldn’t close down the foreign shops, why? Why is he prioritising foreigners over his own citizens?” said Dabula.
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She added that during the 21 days that the government has given local entrepreneurs to register their shops, Operation Dudula will show that no foreigner is going to get a permit.
“I’m happy that they have suspended the process for registrations because we told them that we are going to be stationed here up until the 21 days given by the government end, they are also consulting their provincial leader as well as the national so we are waiting for feedback,” explained Dabula.
