By Buziwe Nocuze
- A Somali shop owner in Bellville opened his clothing and shoe shop on Tuesday, saying he would rather risk danger than lose a day’s income.
- A Bellville porter who carries groceries for residents made R50 instead of her usual R200, after fewer people came into town.
“I would rather die than lose money.” That is what a Somali shop owner in Bellville said on Tuesday, as he opened his clothing and shoe shop while other traders kept their doors shut.
He spoke to Scrolla.Africa on condition of anonymity, for his own safety. Other Somali traders in the area were scared their shops would be looted, he said, but he decided to open anyway.
He has papers proving he is in the country legally and was ready to show them to officials if needed. If people came to loot his shop, he said, there was nothing he could do to stop them. His plan would simply be to buy stock again and carry on.
“I didn’t want to lose money, even though the business is slow. What I will get today by opening is better than closing and getting nothing, because we need money,” he said.
He said he cannot afford to keep his shop closed.
“How am I going to cover my bills if I have days when I close my shop?” he said.
Down the street, a woman who survives by carrying groceries for Bellville residents had a different day. On a normal day, by midday, she usually made more than R200.
On Tuesday she made R50. She said most people stayed away from Bellville, expecting violence.
“I hope everything goes back to normal tomorrow,” she said.
Neither of them left. One opened his shop and waited to see what would happen. The other waited on the street for customers who mostly did not come.
Pictured above: A Somali national in Bellville, Cape Town, opened his shop despite fears of looting among traders in the area. He said he would rather risk danger than lose money, and would simply restock if looted.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
