Everson Luhanga
When Bitou’s Mayor Dave Swart saw a worrying social media message demanding that foreigners vacate the area by 31 August, he did not take the implied threat lightly.
Swart called a meeting with all the local stakeholders to iron out any differences that have arisen in their community, near George in the Western Cape.
Police officers, residents and members of the local anti-foreigner group gathered at the Simunye Community Hall on Wednesday night.
There, they resolved that South Africa belongs to those who live in it and issues must be resolved amicably without resorting to violence.
On Thursday, when the group went to hand over a memorandum to the municipality, foreign business owners brought food and refreshments to the marchers in the interests of building one South Africa.
They presented the memorandum to the mayor. Some of the demands called for the regulation of spaza shops, a fight against crimes like drug trafficking, and the creation of more opportunities for people, with locals being shareholders in tourism projects held in local towns.
Ward councillor Bhorom Sam Mangxaba said a handful of people who organised the march against foreigners made a U-turn after the Wednesday meeting. They agreed with other stakeholders not to be in violent confrontation with foreigners as the original message had indicated.
A major issue is the ownership of spaza shops. Kwanokuthula township has 69 spaza shops which are mostly owned by foreign nationals.
Mangxaba said there will be a public consultation among residents in different communities in the area who will decide which spaza shops should stay and which ones should be incorporated with others or move to the next street.
“The transition will be smooth with all residents being involved in such a decision so that there is no chaos or bloodbath,” he said.
Mangxaba said the government is pushing to amend policies that would also give economic muscle for locals to have the capital to start their own businesses.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, local politician Bill Nel said there was a group of people in the township who had promised to drive foreigners out of the kasi.
“These developments were concerning and we had to intervene as the governing party in a multi-party government.”
He said they met and engaged with the group and brought in the police to bring a solution to the development.
Bitou spokesperson Andile Nomntu said the municipality is developing a policy to regulate the township economy where local traders will have equal opportunities with people from other countries.
