South Africa: Foreigners close up shop in Philippi as looting spreads

By Lauren Isaacs & Masa Kekana
Thursday, February 26, 2015

advertisements

CAPE TOWN - Many foreign business owners in Philippi have been forced to close up shop.

They fear for their lives as some foreign owned shops in the Marikana informal settlement have been targeted in two days of looting.

One person was shot and killed and another wounded during the violence and at least 11 arrests have been made.

Aeysha Hussenni from Burundi says she came to South Africa hoping for a better life.

“I don’t know what to do now, this is my life, I don’t have another way. I have a child, I have a family.”

At the same time, a task team has been set up in a bid to ease tensions at a Philippi informal settlement after looting flared up again.

Police say one person was shot dead and another wounded in the unrest.

A special task team consisting of members from the Ses’khona People's Right's Movement, the Somali Business Forum, the United Nations (UN) refugee centre, the UN commissioner’s office, school governing bodies, local Community Police Forums and police are all working together to put an end to the looting.

The looting has now spread to surrounding areas.

Ses’khona leader Loyiso Nkohla says the looting is carried out by a handful of criminals.

“It’s a group of about 15 to 20 young boys.”

Nkohla says foreign shop owners have been advised to close their doors temporarily until the violence stops.

Home
Email

Hiiraan Online