Tensions are very high between foreign spaza shop owners and the locals after the 22-year man was shot after a scuffle over change.

FIGHT OVER CHANGE

The incident happened in White City Jabavu in Soweto on Saturday night where onlookers saw a man grabbing the Pakistan national after he had allegedly bought a cigarette using R50. It is alleged that during the scuffle over change, the foreign national went inside the shop and came back with an unlicensed firearm and shot the young man. This angered the community which came out in full force and called for foreign nationals to shutdown their shops.

Some unruly community members tried to break into other spaza shops but the local community leaders and patrollers were quick to act and stop them.

ANGRY MOB

Resident Ntokozo Gwaja told Zimoja that they are grateful that the angry young community members were reprimanded from looting the shops.

"We don't condone violence at any cost and we believe that the law must take its course and send a strong message to other foreign nationals that this country has a strict laws that everyone must obey. It was through our hard work that we managed to calm down the angry youth who thought that as elders in the community we were also going to fall for their "mabahambe" slogan. If we had let that happen here in Jabavu, it was going to be easy for other neighbouring townships to start xenophobic attacks against them. That is why we made sure that we protect their shops and their lives so the police can arrest anyone who wants to turn this into crime," he said.

Gauteng SAPS Spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said that there was a person shot and injured at the weekend but the person is in a stable condition in hospital. 

"Police are investigating an attempted murder docket. As a result of this incident Moroka police together with JMPD members yesterday monitored the situation at White City following allegations of shops being closed. At this stage no shops were closed and no injuries reported. There's been no arrest either. Police had discussion with community leaders and continue to monitor the situation even today. There were no incidents of looting," she said.