Cape Town — Police have confirmed the arrest of four foreign nationals who wounded a man on the East Rand in Gauteng, in an alleged attempt to close foreign-owned spaza shops in the area.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said the incident took place on Monday as the community went on a drive-by to close the foreign-owned shops. She confirmed that the shooting incident took place in Saulsville in Atteridgeville where a 32-year-old man was reported injured, The Citizen reported.
“Upon arrival, members of the community told them Somalians inside the shop shot one member of the public. The victim was shot in the hand and leg and was taken to a local hospital,” she said.
The four men were arrested on Monday 25 November after they were found inside the shop. They were expected to make their first court appearance on charges of attempted murder.
ALSO READ | WATCH | Ramaphosa urges spaza shops to register immediately
Food-related incidents have plagued South Africa in recent months with an alarming number of deaths, as more than 20 children have succumbed to illnesses linked to goods bought from spaza shops. This has led to several protests and demands that spaza shops be closed countrywide.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that all spaza shops countrywide need to be registered within 21 days or action will be taken against them.
“We’ve given them a timeframe to come forward…If they don’t come forward by themselves, then we will be compelled to take action,” he said.
Due to the rising number of illnesses, the government classified all foodborne illnesses as a national disaster as the government attempted to curb all foodborne illnesses. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, said the classification would help activate all strictures and departments to take action against the challenges at hand and serve as a good base.
“If you want to escalate the response, you go to a declaration of a disaster [as] it has far-reaching implications because you need to mobilise soldiers, you need to go wild if you want to go to a state of disaster,” he added, saying COGTA was working towards a declaration of a national disaster.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen