Advocacy group #NotInMyName has called on the government to shut down all spaza shops that are owned by illegal foreigners, this as many of them sell poisoned food stuffs that have over the years led to the deaths of South African children.
Recently, several kids in Soweto died after consuming chips that they had bought from these illegal, foreign-owned spaza shops.
“NotInMyName International calls on all South African community members to peacefully close the nearest foreign-owned spaza shop as it is saddened by the untimely deaths of Soweto children who allegedly died after consuming food stuffs from a spaza shop belonging to a foreign national,” said the organisation’s spokesperson Themba Masango.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the affected families, relatives and friends,” he said.
“We are calling upon all South Africans, especially those who reside in the townships, to mobilise themselves and peacefully help foreign spaza shop owners to pack and leave their communities,” he said.
Masango said this move will not only save lives but will also return the now-defunct township economy to its rightful owners.
“It has become apparent that we are on our own as South African citizens because the government of the day is standing on the sidelines and observing as mere spectators the ongoing biological warfare against South Africans through the sale of food stuffs that are not fit for human consumption.
Masango made it clear that #NotInMyName is in solidarity with Soweto learners who are currently staging protest marches against foreign-owned spaza shops.
He called upon all forward-thinking South Africans and law-enforcement agencies to make sure that children and those who are vulnerable in the community are safe during these mass protests.
“We want South Africans to take up the space that is currently occupied by these foreign-owned spaza shops, but if any foreigner is here legally and operating within the framework of the laws and bylaws of the community wherein, they live, then we have no problem at all in that case,” explained Masango.
“The goods that are sold at these spaza shops must clearly indicate as to where they were manufactured, and also have manufacturing and expiry dates as this will help all and sundry to know that the goods are healthy and worth consuming,” he said.
“I don’t believe that any right-thinking South African would be opposed to the measures that we are proposing, because all that matters here is for South Africans to be alive and healthy,” stressed Masango.
“We finally want to put to an end a situation whereby illegal foreigners run illegal spaza shops and killing our children,” said Masango.