Shop owners threaten foreigners with 'bloodbath'

Shop owners in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, have threatened "civil war" if the government does not stop what they term an "economic stampede" by foreigners.

The shopkeepers plan to march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on November 24 with businessmen from across Tshwane in protest against Somali, Pakistani, Ethiopian and Bangladeshi people operating in the township who, they say, are threatening their livelihoods

Mpane Baloyi, chairman of the Soshanguve Broader Business Forum, which was formed with the sole mandate of driving out the "intruders", said the foreigners were deliberately destroying local businesses by dropping prices, and increasing them again once local shops had closed down.

"Local-owned shops are closing down while foreigners' shops flourish," he said.

"These people have pushed us to the limit and are driving us into poverty in our own country.

"This is a ticking time bomb and there will be a bloodbath if the government continues to ignore our pleas," he said.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Dikatso Thebe would not comment on the matter yesterday, saying it was regarded as xenophobia, which is dealt with at provincial level.

Gauteng police spokesmen lieutenant-colonels Tshisikhawe Ndou and Lungelo Dlamini could not be reached for comment.