Riyaz Patel
Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has condemned the attack on law enforcement agencies in Johannesburg, but added that it cannot be said that the people who were involved were foreign nationals.
She described the incident as an attack on the State, which cannot be accepted.
“What happened [last] Thursday when law enforcement agencies were attacked with stones by street traders and hawkers, is not acceptable. Any attack on law enforcement agencies cannot be allowed,” Ntshavheni said.
She was addressing the media following a briefing she had with the police on the extent of counterfeit and pirated goods in the Johannesburg CBD.
Last Thursday, law enforcement agencies were attacked with bricks and petrol bombs, in the Johannesburg CBD whilst conducting an operation against counterfeit goods.
“The police have not made any arrests as yet. It cannot be said that the people who were involved were foreign nationals,” Ntshavheni emphasized.
“Acts of undermining the State [are not only] conducted by foreign nationals. Even the nationals of this country can be liable for that.”
Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
“We are saying the attack on the police was done by street traders and hawkers in Johannesburg, irrespective of their nationality. Acts of undermining the State [are not only] conducted by foreign nationals. Even the nationals of this country can be liable for that,” she added.
South Africa’s economy lost about R350 million between December 2018 and July 2018 as a result of counterfeit goods, according to the Minister.
She met with the Hawkers’ Association to discuss last week’s incident and to avoid a repeat of last week’s ugly scenes.
“It is within the interest of the entrepreneurs, whether they are in the formal or informal business, to protect the rule of law and the laws of the republic. There is a discussion that the country should have on how to regulate and manage the informal trading business,” she said.
Ntshavheni believes that the informal business sector provides a critical safety net against unemployment and poverty for society, in particular the urban poor.
“The intrusion of criminality (counterfeit and pirated goods) and lawlessness damage opportunities for all participants and stakeholders of the sector to grow and meaningfully contribute to developing South Africa and such must not be tolerated,” South Africa’s Small Business Development Minister said.
The African Diaspora Forum (ADF) said it is seeking a meeting with government to discuss issues relating to foreign traders in South Africa.
ADF chairperson Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda said foreign traders were “provoked” and were now fed-up.
