By Nkhensani Mthombeni
- Action SA marchers stopped outside a Tzaneen car dealership and accused its manager of hiring illegal foreigners without any proof.
- Mayor Odas Ngobeni received Action SA’s official demands on hawkers and foreign workers, and has 14 working days to respond.
Action SA marched through Tzaneen’s CBD again on Thursday, in its latest march and march campaign against illegal immigration and hawkers trading without papers.
The party, which is gaining ground in the ANC dominated Mopani District Municipality, started the march at the Tzaneen Showground before moving into town. Marchers stopped at several spots, including a car dealership, where they accused the manager of being a foreign national working illegally.
Tzaneen mayoral candidate and march leader Dr Mikia Ramothwala addressed the dealership directly.
“We don’t want illegal foreigners working here. You hire Zimbabweans here, when South Africans have also gone to school to study, but you employ foreigners. We will come back here and address the matter,” he said.
Ramothwala then led the crowd in a chant of “aba hambe,” meaning “they must go.”
The marchers carried on to the municipal offices, where Greater Tzaneen Municipality Mayor Odas Ngobeni received their memorandum. Their demands included an end to the victimisation of workers who report employers for hiring illegal foreigners, and permission for street hawkers in the CBD to trade without trading papers.
In recent weeks, the municipality has stepped up efforts to remove hawkers without papers from the CBD, including demolishing structures and confiscating stock. Daniel Joubert Street is packed with unlicensed traders selling everything from hairstyling to fruit, vegetables, cellphone repairs and shoe cleaning, at times blocking the pavement. The municipality says the clean up is needed to keep the town in order.
Ngobeni signed the memorandum and promised a response within 14 working days.
Action SA has run several march and march campaigns since June 30, including visits to local factories accused of hiring illegal immigrants. The party also joined the Polokwane march and march, led by Jacinta Ngobese Zuma.
Pictured above: Action SA marchers in Tzaneen town.
Image source: Supplied
