Gauteng Economic Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu has condemned the on-going attacks on businesses owned by foreign nationals in townships.
The MEC was reacting to the latest incident in Attridgeville, west of Pretoria, where residents embarked on a violent protest against Somalian and Pakistani business owners.
The incident which began on Thursday saw residents attacking several businesses belonging to foreign nationals resulting in a woman being shot dead.
MEC Mahlangu said communities should unite and isolate those people responsible for acts of violence and looting as this undermines the rule of law. She said that instead of engaging in acts of violence and attacking those that make honest living communities should rather invest their energies to enhance the spirit of entrepreneurship in the townships.
“These acts are an embarrassment to the country as they achieve nothing but advance the narrow interest of those masquerading as business people. We should all condemn this behaviour and I want to urge that those responsible for these barbaric acts should face the full might of the law,” she said.
“We also send our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and hope that the perpetrators will be found and brought to justice”.
She added that government has put in place plans that are targeted at supporting Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME’s) with a view to growing the economy and creating decent jobs. One such in initiative is the Y-Age launch which will take place in Alexandra on Friday. This initiative will see 100 000 youth and women entrepreneurs being identified, screened, trained, financed and supported to employ between 3 and 5 people to create one million jobs
MEC Mahlangu also urged members of the public to co-operate with the police in identifying and reporting anyone engaging in such criminal acts.
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