Durban - The killing of a trader from Somalia in Inanda was not motivated by xenophobia, but the work of “jealous” business rivals.
That is according to the Somali Association of South Africa’s KZN branch.
The association was reacting to the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old Somali, Safayo Kurkure Diimaa, at his tuck shop in eNhlugwane, Inanda’s C section, on Saturday.
After the shooting, Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Willies Mchunu, expressed concern at the continued attacks on foreign shop owners.
Mchunu said in a statement that an unknown man had burst into the shop and opened fire, killing the shop owner, before fleeing. No goods were stolen.
Police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, said Diimaa was serving customers when he was shot.
“The motive is unknown and Inanda SAPS is investigating a case of murder,” Naicker said.
Yussuf Sheik, of the association, dismissed the idea the attack was sparked by xenophobia.
“Actually, it’s not like it was a xenophobic attack. These are criminals. It’s all about abusing the competition. You can’t just put it as xenophobia. It’s just people who are jealous,” Sheik said.
“They are being mobilised by locals who are also operating there. Two weekends ago, they burned a shop. That would be a worse thing to call it xenophobia,” he said.
Two KwaMashu tuck shops owned by Somalis were petrol-bombed in the space of a week last month.
Sheik suspected the killers were conspiring in the attacks with KwaMashu traders whom they accuse of sending threatening letters in November to the landlords of Somali traders in KwaMashu and Inanda.
The letter from a group calling itself “Abahwebi ba-KwaMashu” (KwaMashu Traders) tells the landlords to evict their tenants or they would be kicked out.
The letter, which was then given to the police and the Department of Community Safety in KZN, has been seen by the Daily News,
“It (the latest attack) might be related or be the same people.
“The local traders put an item up by R1 and we put it up 50c. I don’t understand the problem as what I am doing is for my own shop,” Sheik said.
He believed the KZN government was doing its best to resolve the issue.
Mchunu, who last month called for a meeting between the Somali business community, a group of KwaMashu traders and the police, said he was “once again calling on all concerned to cease these attacks and resume talks aimed at finding solutions to their concerns”.
He said teams from his department were on the ground working with the police and all concerned to find a solution.
“It is critical that these attacks are stopped and that we immediately engage in talks to resolve whatever differences might have emerged around the presence of these business people in the areas in question,” Mchunu said.
“I call on communities to work with the police to ensure these attacks end while we are still exploring a negotiated settlement,” he added.
Daily News