As part of the clean-up campaign called Operation Dudula, operators of the foreign-owned Cash & Cash wholesalers at Nandi Nice Square in Vosloorus were on January 29 commanded to close their business and vacate the area.
Operation Dudula is a campaign spearheaded by local civil organisations and individuals and is aimed at removing foreign nationals who operate businesses in the townships and surrounding suburbs.
The launch of the operation in Vosloorus was also attended by people dressed in regalia of the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKVA).
The deputy chairperson of the operation Dan Radebe said they told the store owners to close the store because there were reports of non-compliance with the norms and prescribed health standards.
Radebe said it’s also a concern for the country because these foreign nationals are in the country illegally.
“Most of them come to South Africa intending to invest, but South Africans are not benefiting anything from it. We want to change this,” Radebe said.
MKVA and Dudula members’ effort to shut down the Vosloorus Cash and Carry, proved futile.
Vosloorus SAPS members and EMPD officers monitored the situation.
The co-owner of the wholesaler, Abdi Hassan Mohammed, said he is disappointed and hurt because the Dudula members just want to dictate to them to close their business without genuine facts.
“We have been operating this business legally for 17 years, and we are in the country legally.
“If they pick up something wrong in our store they must come and notify us, instead of commanding that we must close the business.
“If they point out something that we are doing wrong, we will rectify it. I don’t understand their problem because we have more than 50% of South Africans working in our store,” Mahommed said.
The Vosloorus Police Station acting commander, Paul Mathebula, said the members of the MKVA and Dudula operation cannot just do as they please and disregard the laws of the country.
“The owners must carry on operating their stores. What we are witnessing here is unlawful. As law enforcers, we wouldn’t allow this business to operate if it was contravening the law.”
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