Heartache of a Somali businessman

[Blythe]

Heartache of a Somali businessman

24 February 2012

Rustenburg, South Africa

THE effects of the violent strike that erupted at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg recently were evident in the Freedom Park informal settlement and Segwaelane village.

A number of shops in those areas - most of which belong to Somali nationals - were looted and burnt down last Thursday when Impala workers, fuming over a pay dispute with mine authorities, left a lot of things destroyed in their wake.
The strike, which has lasted just over a month, has reportedly cost the mine more than R2-billion. In the process two mineworkers have been killed and several others injured.

Somali businesses have felt the brunt of the miners' wrath. Their shops, in both areas were torched. Before most of the shops went up in flames the miners and some members of local communities looted the businesses.A Somali national, whose business was destroyed, is Abdinoor Adan Madobe. He watched helplessly as his "small goods" shop in Freedom Park was burnt down by a community he had felt part of since coming to South Africa six years ago. He now begs for food and a place to sleep from friends.

"I was in Zinniaville when I received a call that my shop was under attack. When I arrived there I found a lot of people, but my shop had already been looted and gutted," Madobe said. "I had a very good relationship with the locals. I even used to help with school uniforms. Even when there was a funeral in the community I used to donate groceries ... now this,"

Madobe does not believe that the attacks on their shops was driven by xenophobia. "I don't think it (xenophobia) had anything to do with this.
"Some of the miners took advantage of the strike to destroy our businesses.
"The same thing happens when there are service delivery protests.
"We'd like to appeal to the United Nations and the government to help us," he said.

Madobe said he had lost about R35,000 worth of goods as a result of vandalism and arson. "That is the amount I lost in goods only. When you include the buildings, it is close to R200,000.
"A lot of shops - about 43 in total - were destroyed.
"As a result, I don't have a place to stay because I used to stay in my shop. Now, when I'm hungry, I ask for food from some of my countrymen," Madobe said. "I left my wife and seven children back home. It is now very difficult for them. I sleep outside because the people who gave me shelter in Zinniaville simply do not have space for me to sleep."

Despite his heartache, Madobe said he would return to Freedom Park to rebuild his business. "There is still a lot of fear and we'll only go back there if we get help from the government because we are not safe.
"I might not have anything at the moment, but with the help of Allah I can start my business again from scratch," he said.

[miskeen86]

"We'd like to appeal to the United Nations and the government to help us," he said.

this is not a war zone, it was a riot by angry mine protesting workers.

[Blythe]

Five arrested hours after WCape murder, robbery

Five men were arrested a few hours after they allegedly killed a shop owner and wounded two other men on Sunday, Western Cape police said.

26 February 2012 | sapa

JOHANNESBURG - Five men were arrested a few hours after they allegedly killed a shop owner and wounded two other men on Sunday, Western Cape police said.

Captain Malcolm Pojie said five men broke into a spaza shop in Thembalethu near George at 1am.

The owner, Llyaasi Mohamed, 35, was shot in the upper body and died on the scene.

The robbers also shot his friend, wounding him in the right thigh. They stole airtime and an undisclosed amount of money.

The robbers moved on to another shop nearby, where they shot a second shop owner in the arm. They again stole airtime and money.

Police investigations led to the arrests of five men, aged between 26 and 29, at a house in the area where the robberies took place.

They confiscated cash, airtime, two firearms, ammunition and a Ford Bantam bakkie, stolen from Atlantis.

The five will appear in the George Magistrate's court on Tuesday charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and the possession of illegal firearms.

The firearms will undergo ballistics test to determine if they were used in other crimes in the area.