Tribal council cuts ties with foreign-operated businesses

Foreign nationals undertaking sand mining, making building blocks, operating taverns given notice to cease operations

April 15, 2026

Muzi Zincume 2 minutes read

iNduna Nkosikhona Mkhize delivers the message

The KwaDube Tribal Council has taken a bold step to stop all foreign national-operated businesses in the area.

All foreign nationals undertaking sand mining, making building blocks, operating taverns, and those selling alcohol have been ordered to cease operations on Thursday, 30 April.

ALSO READ: Crackdown on freight industry as KZN targets employers hiring undocumented foreign truck drivers

Speaking on behalf on the KwaDube Tribal Council, iNduna Nkosikhona Mkhize said the decision was taken to give local residents the opportunity to do business in their area.

“We have decided to act as we have noticed most job opportunities are taken away from local residents by foreign nationals. We have given some shop owners notices to say they must not do certain business. Soon we will approach those who are operating salons and restaurants,” he said.

“We want to do things in a good way, and work with all government structures. Having said that, it must be known that we have taken a stand that local residents should be allowed to do business in their areas.

“We are engaging with various structures to ensure whatever we are doing, we do in a proper way as we do not want to allow opportunists to take advantage of this decision and tarnish the image of our tribal council.

A letter issued by the Dube Traditional Council

“Whatever decisions we take are documented and the police are informed. As eyes and ears of our iNkosi, we ensure there is no violence, but people must be informed about these latest developments.

“We therefore urge all our community members to behave themselves, as we have taken a decision to support them in ensuring our local economy remains here. We will soon conduct inspections at all businesses operating in our areas,” said Mkhize.

This decision was warmly welcomed by the March to March chairperson in King Cetshwayo District, Xolani Gumede.

“We want to convey our words of gratitude to the Dube Tribal Authority for prohibiting all foreign nationals from doing informal business within the community to protect the local economy.

“We are an organisation that prioritises the rule of law. We still need more time to engage with the council to cut ties with all kinds of business operations performed by foreign nationals who do not have necessary documents to conduct business in our community.

“In accordance with the Immigration Act 13 of 2002, foreign nationals are not allowed to occupy the local economy,” said Gumede.

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: