By Buziwe Nocuze
• Business owners in Makhathakhatha say protesters forced them to close, even though many of them are South Africans.
• Some traders say they rent from foreign nationals with legal papers, but closed their shops to avoid trouble.
Shop owners in Makhathakhatha, Lusikisiki, were forced to close their businesses after protesters arrived and warned them of consequences if they stayed open.
The protest took place on Wednesday in the Eastern Cape town.
Some traders said they were shocked because many of the businesses in the area are owned or run by South Africans.
A foreign national, who asked not to be named, said some of them have valid papers and were ready to show them to the protesters.
“Most people who run businesses here are South Africans. Even we foreign nationals have proper papers to be in the country,” the trader said.
“But for peace, we decided to close because we did not want to be seen as disrespectful.”
Food seller Nwabisa Mkhawuta said she was cooking when the protesters arrived.
She said they told her to close because she rents from a foreign national.
“They told us to close because we are paying rent to a foreign national,” said Mkhawuta.
“We explained that we are South Africans and that the land was given to the foreign national by government.”
She said it was unfair to punish South African traders for decisions made by the municipality.
“Forcing us to close our shops as if we are foreign nationals is wrong,” she said.
Mkhawuta said the protest caught many traders off guard.
She said previous marches had been announced in advance, but this one seemed disorganised.
Salon worker Zimbini Ngxangana said she had to finish serving clients outside after the shops were closed.
“I am angry because we lost customers. We had to lock our shops and continue working outside,” she said.
She said some clients had to leave before their hair was finished.
Community member Luzuko Koyana said the protesters hurt small businesses already struggling to survive.
“People lost stock and customers because of people who don’t understand how businesses work,” he said.
He said the protesters should have planned properly instead of causing chaos.
Pictured above: Business owners in Makhathakhatha, Lusikisiki, were forced to close their shops after protesters arrived in the area.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
