Africa-Press – South-Africa. Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has pledged to support communities organising to reclaim spaza shop ownership in their neighbourhoods.
The Boipatong community South of Joburg claims local shop operations in the area are dominated by foreign nationals leaving the locals out of their economy.
On Monday morning, Maile engaged disgruntled residents on a range of issues following the murder of a local spaza shop owner.
The murder ignited violent protests in the area, leading to widespread looting of the township’s spaza shops.
Maile reassured residents that the government is implementing a plan to address the challenges.
“We will have to make grants available for these closed shops. It’s unacceptable. We can’t allow people, whether legal or illegal, to come here, engage in violent activities, and threaten the lives of our people.”
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