By Ndivhuwo Mukwevho
Communities in most rural villages in Vhembe, Limpopo, have shut down foreign-owned spaza shops, blaming the owners for selling contaminated, poisonous, and expired foods.
This follows several incidents of children falling sick after allegedly eating snacks, sweets and biscuits bought from spaza shops in their communities.
Some foreign shop owners said they fear for their safety and question why local business owners can operate despite selling similar goods.
Mohammed Hassan, a Somali businessman, told Scrolla.Africa of his frustrations.
“I have been running my rented supermarket for the past 10 years, and no one has ever fallen sick from eating the products I sell,” he said.
“I don’t understand why some people are now saying that I should stop running my shop while I sell food that is safe to eat.”
Hassan’s shop at Tshiulungoma village, near Thohoyandou, has been closed since Sunday evening after local community leaders told him not to open it until further notice.
“On Friday this week, I have to pay my rent, but how will I pay while I cannot sell anything now? This is very wrong,” he said.
Abdul Nair, who has operated a rented shop in Mphego village for the past two years, said he fears for his life.
“I have not been able to work since Sunday. It is very stressful as I also stay inside the shop, so I live with a constant fear of being attacked by looters and criminals.”
Nair said he has never sold any food items that made anyone sick. “I love children and can never do or sell anything to make anyone sick.”
Mashudu Nemusunda, a resident of Tshilungoma village, said: “Both foreign-owned and locally-owned shops sell similar items, but why are some allowed to operate, while others are forced to shut down? These people buy their stock from the same source, and if they shut down one, they must shut down all of them.”
So far, only a 13-year-old boy from Khubvi village near Thohoyandou has died after allegedly eating snacks he bought from a foreign-owned shop.
Nemusunda blames the government for not protecting children and the community from people who sell contaminated food.
“This is not new; people complained about the same problem last year, but nothing has ever been done. Even today, the situation has not changed, but they are still not doing anything,” said Nemusunda.
Video: Some villagers removed and destroyed food items they took from foreign-owned shops.
Source: Supplied
Pictured above: While most foreign-owned businesses remain closed in Vhembe villages, it’s businesses as usual for those operating near the Thohoyandou shopping complex.
Source: Ndivhuwo Mukwevho
