Plans to move hundreds of foreign shopkeepers driven out of Grahamstown by xenophobic looters two weeks ago back into a township community hall met with mixed response yesterday.
While some foreigners welcomed the move to try and reintegrate them into the community by housing them in Joza’s indoor sport centre, others said they preferred to keep staying at the safe haven outside town where they have been holed up for the past 18 days.
The issue of where to accommodate the more than 400 displaced foreign shopkeepers came to a head on Monday when local businessman Tariq Hayat said he was unable to keep accommodating them in his hotel free of charge.
Hayat yesterday told the Daily Dispatch he had given officials five days from last Monday to try and come up with another plan or contribute towards their accommodation as he was battling to cope financially.
“I have not charged anyone for the past two weeks and I cannot go on like this,” Hayat explained. “If this is going to continue, I need help.”
Although food, blankets, toiletries and clothing have been coming in to help displaced shopkeepers, Hayat has received no financial assistance and has been left to pick up the costs of accommodating them himself.
During a meeting yesterday between foreign shopkeepers, police, municipal officials, home affairs, disaster management and the Red Cross it emerged plans were in place to try relocate them to Joza by Tuesday and try to reintegrate them back into the community.
Makana mayor Nomhle Gaga told shopkeepers yesterday they wanted to get profile details and the losses each business suffered so they could help with the reintegration processes.
However, opinions over moving to the indoor sport centre were divided.
Pakistani shopkeeper Muzammel Hussein said he preferred to stay where he was outside town as they had all the creature comforts they needed – including somewhere to pray five times a day and separate kitchens where they could prepare halaal food.
Although many people supported his call to stay there until they could safely return to their shops, others agreed with Ethiopian shopkeeper Samuel Mirkelo that staying in the township was a step closer to getting their lives up and running again.
Local Sanco chair Bongile Singata said getting foreigners back into the township was important and had to be done urgently.
“The shops are highly required in the township.
“They must be allowed to go back and open again.
“We will not tolerate criminal elements. If foreigners are robbed the law will take its course,” he warned.
Foreigners weigh options
While some foreigners welcomed the move to try and reintegrate them into the community by housing them in Joza’s indoor sport centre, others said they preferred to keep staying at the safe haven outside town where they have been holed up for the past 18 days.
The issue of where to accommodate the more than 400 displaced foreign shopkeepers came to a head on Monday when local businessman Tariq Hayat said he was unable to keep accommodating them in his hotel free of charge.
Hayat yesterday told the Daily Dispatch he had given officials five days from last Monday to try and come up with another plan or contribute towards their accommodation as he was battling to cope financially.
“I have not charged anyone for the past two weeks and I cannot go on like this,” Hayat explained. “If this is going to continue, I need help.”
Although food, blankets, toiletries and clothing have been coming in to help displaced shopkeepers, Hayat has received no financial assistance and has been left to pick up the costs of accommodating them himself.
During a meeting yesterday between foreign shopkeepers, police, municipal officials, home affairs, disaster management and the Red Cross it emerged plans were in place to try relocate them to Joza by Tuesday and try to reintegrate them back into the community.
Makana mayor Nomhle Gaga told shopkeepers yesterday they wanted to get profile details and the losses each business suffered so they could help with the reintegration processes.
However, opinions over moving to the indoor sport centre were divided.
Pakistani shopkeeper Muzammel Hussein said he preferred to stay where he was outside town as they had all the creature comforts they needed – including somewhere to pray five times a day and separate kitchens where they could prepare halaal food.
Although many people supported his call to stay there until they could safely return to their shops, others agreed with Ethiopian shopkeeper Samuel Mirkelo that staying in the township was a step closer to getting their lives up and running again.
Local Sanco chair Bongile Singata said getting foreigners back into the township was important and had to be done urgently.
“The shops are highly required in the township.
“They must be allowed to go back and open again.
“We will not tolerate criminal elements. If foreigners are robbed the law will take its course,” he warned.
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