Home Affairs to check on foreign shop owners

The department of Home Affairs is going to investigate the legal status of the foreign nationals who are doing business in Soweto.

Home Affairs department Mayihlome Tshwete said yesterday: “We will investigate allegations that some of the foreign national have entered illegally”.

Until the allegations were verified, the department would not comment further, he said.

The governing party has warned against the unregulated influx of foreigners into the country which it said poses a threat to security and has created social problems.

Speaking in Doornkop, Soweto on Friday, where the first attack on foreigner owned shops began, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe urged the community to restore street committees which would enable them to know each person.

He said weak emigration laws might open up the country to terror cells. He said the free for all movement can easily give rise to cells like Boko Haram and Islamic State operating in the country.

“We need to tighten emigration laws. It should not be a free for all,” Mantashe said.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura lashed at Soweto locals.

He said they should not blame government or anyone else for their plight.

“It is local business people who hire out their shops to foreigners. You bring in foreigners in the townships and then want to blame government,” he said.

He accused  the youth of Soweto for being the drivers of the looting spree.

The ANC leadership descended on Soweto after President Jacob Zuma issued an instruction from Davos, Switzerland, that the chaos be stopped.

While the rioting abated at the weekend, police confirmed that four people have been confirmed killed in the attacks in various areas and about 153 people arrested for public violence and being in possession of stolen goods. At least 11 foreign nationals were charged with being in possession of illegal firearms, and some for attempted murder.