Johannesburg - The Gauteng provincial government has appealed to locals to stop attacking foreigners and their shops.
MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile was speaking during the post-State of the Province Address on Monday at Premier David Makhura’s office.
Maile and Transport and Infrastructure MECs Ismail Vadi and Nandi Mayathula-Khoza also detailed their three-year plans for the province.
Maile said Gauteng was doing all it could to develop township businesses and to find markets for their products. His department had invested R160 million in the township economy revitalisation strategy.
The City of Joburg said it would spend R3 billion on the township economy, while Tshwane had invested R22m and Ekurhuleni R150m.
Maile said that in Diepsloot, about 160 township entrepreneurs involved in light manufacturing and other productive activities would benefit from the R1.6bn investment in the Riversands/Diepsloot SMME incubation hub.
Seven new township hubs would be established in Ennerdale, Hammanskraal, Mabopane and Reiger Park.
Industrial parks would be revitalised in Katlehong, Orlando, Residentia, Khutsong and Ennerdale.
Maile and his team said people could learn a lot from foreign business people.
“We have noted with deep concern the growing utter disregard for human life and the lawlessness demonstrated in the attacks on foreign nationals in and around our province.
“The Gauteng government reiterates its posture of no tolerance for lawlessness and condemns any acts of violence,” Maile said.
His remarks echoed those of the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees in southern Africa. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the regional representative for southern Africa, said her office was concerned about the resurgence of xenophobic violence in Soweto and the numerous attacks on refugees and foreigners in other parts of the country, including the Western Cape, North West and Mpumalanga.
“In January, refugees and foreign nationals were forced to flee their homes and abandon livelihoods which were looted and destroyed in a wave of xenophobic violence by individuals with whom they live and work.
“We once again call on the government and urge law enforcement agencies to maintain their presence in these volatile areas and to protect refugees and foreign nationals,” Nkweta-Salami said.
She said a task team to deal with the issue was a step in the right direction.
The Star