Around 300 foreign nationals operating businesses in the Mthatha CBD were detained in a joint operation carried out by home affairs and police.
At least six were subsequently detained by home affairs.“At this stage they have not been able to produce documents that allow them to be in the country legally,” said Thembinkosi Mnunu, home affairs district manager for operations in the area yesterday.
“They are still being detained and we have three options; we can fine them, take them to court or deport them.”
He said fines were about R1000.
“A person who comes to the country and is regarded as a foreigner should have a study permit, work permit, business permit or be an asylum seeker,” added Mnunu.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed the details of the joint operation on Wednesday. He said it focused on illegal trade and whether foreigners were in the country legally. “Some are trading without the necessary permits and are not paying tax,” he said, adding the operation would continue until today.
Local firms applauded the move, saying there was a need to “level” the playing fields.
OR Tambo District Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabati said “huge” amounts of money were leaving the country’s shores as a result of illegal, foreign-run trade. “We are not saying they must go away. But if they are trading illegally then it means they are not paying tax and taking money out of Mthatha back to their countries.”
Ntlabati said it was easier for unregistered businesses to exploit workers because they did not have to conform to labour laws.
“The department does not know about them, so they can do as they please,” he said.
Local businessman Andile Nontso said illegal traders stifled growth in the local economy and legitimate small businesses were suffering.
“A person trading legally should have a municipal trading licence, be registered with the South African Revenue Services and pay their workers salary rates determined by labour laws in this country.”
He said many of the illegal traders sold fake goods.
“This has nothing to do with xenophobia, it is making sure that everyone complies,” said Nontso.
Junaid Bashir, who has been running an electronics shop in Mthatha for two years, welcomed the move.
Bashir, who hails from Pakistan, said it should happen regularly.
“If you are in someone’s country then you should be there legally,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with being asked to provide papers to show that you are here legally.”
But several foreigners – who did not want to go on record for fear of reprisals – complained they had lost a lot of trade from being forced to spend the day at home affairs.
Mnunu said those found to have the necessary papers were screened and released.
Two years ago KSD admitted that “hundreds” of businesses in Mthatha were operating illegally, and complained that the situation contributed to making the city filthy. Attempts to get comment from the municipality were unsuccessful at the time of writing yesterday. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
300 foreign traders arrested
At least six were subsequently detained by home affairs.“At this stage they have not been able to produce documents that allow them to be in the country legally,” said Thembinkosi Mnunu, home affairs district manager for operations in the area yesterday.
“They are still being detained and we have three options; we can fine them, take them to court or deport them.”
He said fines were about R1000.
“A person who comes to the country and is regarded as a foreigner should have a study permit, work permit, business permit or be an asylum seeker,” added Mnunu.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed the details of the joint operation on Wednesday. He said it focused on illegal trade and whether foreigners were in the country legally. “Some are trading without the necessary permits and are not paying tax,” he said, adding the operation would continue until today.
Local firms applauded the move, saying there was a need to “level” the playing fields.
OR Tambo District Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabati said “huge” amounts of money were leaving the country’s shores as a result of illegal, foreign-run trade. “We are not saying they must go away. But if they are trading illegally then it means they are not paying tax and taking money out of Mthatha back to their countries.”
Ntlabati said it was easier for unregistered businesses to exploit workers because they did not have to conform to labour laws.
“The department does not know about them, so they can do as they please,” he said.
Local businessman Andile Nontso said illegal traders stifled growth in the local economy and legitimate small businesses were suffering.
“A person trading legally should have a municipal trading licence, be registered with the South African Revenue Services and pay their workers salary rates determined by labour laws in this country.”
He said many of the illegal traders sold fake goods.
“This has nothing to do with xenophobia, it is making sure that everyone complies,” said Nontso.
Junaid Bashir, who has been running an electronics shop in Mthatha for two years, welcomed the move.
Bashir, who hails from Pakistan, said it should happen regularly.
“If you are in someone’s country then you should be there legally,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with being asked to provide papers to show that you are here legally.”
But several foreigners – who did not want to go on record for fear of reprisals – complained they had lost a lot of trade from being forced to spend the day at home affairs.
Mnunu said those found to have the necessary papers were screened and released.
Two years ago KSD admitted that “hundreds” of businesses in Mthatha were operating illegally, and complained that the situation contributed to making the city filthy. Attempts to get comment from the municipality were unsuccessful at the time of writing yesterday. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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