Boipelo Mere
The March and March members raised questions on the ongoing operations of a tuck shop in Phakamile Mabija, on the N12 hiking spot, after Home Affairs confirmed that undocumented foreigners ran it.
This was discovered during their weekly inspection programmes when they found an illegal Ethiopian running the shop.
The police were called to the shop and found the marchers picketing outside while a delegation engaged with the owner.
The shop forms part of the property at the entrance and exit of Kimberley City and is suspected of housing up to 20 foreigners, who were not present in their seemingly overcrowded rooms.
A video surfaced in which the marchers performed an inspection and came across a suspected bridge in an electricity connection as well.
The immigration officers were called to the scene and took away three foreign nationals for verification purposes while the shop remained closed.
The Sol Plaatje municipality could not confirm the allegations of bridging electricity nor the fact that the occupants of the house were indeed paying for electricity.
One of the local March and March coordinators, Hebert Miller, questioned why the Immigration Act was not enforced to close the shop or the house after all was discovered.
Miller highlighted that the property is a hot spot because every foreigner can enter and leave the city as they please.
He said upon the arrival of the March and March at the premises, the police arrived within 30 minutes to protect the shop and then called immigration.
“Our members picketed peacefully outside without disruption. The Ethiopian was cooperating and explained to us that his brother owned the shop. Another brother, who claimed to be the owner, arrived and indicated that the municipality approved everything about the shop. However, Home Affairs confirmed that none of the Ethiopians had a permit or Visa to run a business,” said Miller.
“The tuck shop was only closed for the short period while we were there, and re-opened after we left, until today. It’s business as usual,” explained Miller.
He confirmed that during their weekly marches they realised that the majority of the undocumented foreigners carry work and study permits. Where and what do they study?
Sol Plaatje municipal spokesperson Thabo Mothibi had said the municipality has closed about 10 non-compliant tuckshops in Kimberley.
Although, by the time of going to print, he did not yet identified which ones, including whether the one at the N12 was one of them or not. There was also no comment on whether the municipality managed to do inspections at the specific premises.
The Northern Cape Police continues to urge the public to act responsibly, avoid taking the law into their own hands and allow law enforcement to do its work.
Police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers warned that any search of business premises must be conducted lawfully by authorised officials.
“Private individuals have no authority to do so or to demand permits or identity documents,” warned Ehlers.
She said SAPS remains committed to impartial policing and to the safety and security of all people in the Northern Cape
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