The deaths of 23 children in Johannesburg this year, allegedly from food poisoning, have fueled anger in South Africa, particularly against foreign nationals who operate small corner shops known as spazas. The issue has sparked widespread xenophobia, leading to attacks, looting, and closures of foreign-run businesses.
One tragic incident occurred in Soweto’s Naledi area in October, where six children died after allegedly consuming snacks from a spaza shop run by an Ethiopian national. While an autopsy linked the deaths to pesticide poisoning, no direct connection to the shop has been officially confirmed. Nevertheless, local residents vented their fury, attacking the shop, driving out the shopkeeper, and forcing even the property owner to flee.
The case is part of a disturbing trend, with similar incidents reported across other areas. This has prompted authorities to raid foreign-run spaza shops to ensure compliance with regulations. Six such shops were shut down in Olievenhoutbosch near Pretoria last week for selling expired food and unregulated products, according to municipal official Sarah Mabotsa.
Rising Xenophobia and Vigilantism
The outrage has emboldened xenophobic groups like Operation Dudula, which has targeted foreign shopkeepers, accusing them of causing harm to South Africans. In Naledi, Operation Dudula replaced foreign spaza operators with South Africans, providing funds to locals to take over these businesses. The group’s leader, Zandile Dabula, expressed pride in shutting down foreign-run shops, saying, “We went back to make sure they closed again.”
Some South African politicians have even supported the call for spaza shops to be exclusively run by locals. This sentiment has further marginalized foreign nationals, many of whom have fled for safety.
Unverified Claims and Speculation
The recent child poisoning cases have stirred wild speculation. Some allege intentional poisoning by foreign shopkeepers, while others believe the outrage is a calculated move to drive foreign nationals out of the market.
Zachariah Salah, a Somali shopkeeper in Soweto, expressed despair over the baseless accusations, stating, “It’s tragic for us… We don’t even know if the claims are genuine.”
Experts suggest the attacks on foreign-owned businesses are less about health concerns and more about eliminating competition. Loren Landau, a migration expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, noted, “If you try to shut down South African businesses, people would protest. But you can go after a foreigner, and no one will protest.”
Community Dependence on Spaza Shops
Despite the hostility, many locals still depend on spaza shops for daily necessities. When some foreign-run shops were shut, residents faced significant inconvenience. “When it was shut, I had to go to malls that are very far,” said 63-year-old Nomsa Skosan, expressing relief after one shop reopened. She added, “If what they sell in these stores is as bad as they say, why loot them?”
As the debate rages, the tragic deaths remain a reminder of the need for thorough investigations and solutions rooted in facts, not xenophobia. Meanwhile, tensions between locals and foreign shopkeepers continue to simmer, exacerbated by South Africa’s economic challenges and high unemployment rates.
