Foreigners in NC fear for their lives
money, airtime and cigarettes from his shop. He was alone at the time and they could have taken what they wanted and left but instead they killed him,” Tirago said.
Other foreigners who supported Tirago said they feared for their safety as they had received continuous threats from criminal elements.
“Criminals walk into the shops and take what they want and then just walk out without paying. When we ask them about payment they threaten us and tell us to go back to our country. Sometimes they even threaten us with a weapon and demand cigarettes or other goods. We have to do as they say because we are afraid they will hurt us,” said one of the foreigners.
Another said that assistance from law enforcement agencies was not always forthcoming.
“The police will help us but not all the time. We understand as they are also only human and are also threatened. Most of the time we just give the suspects what they want so that we are not harmed, however, it is damaging our business. We just want to make a living and mean no harm to anyone.” REPAIRS to the burst pipe on the corner of Bultfontein Road and Long Street were, according to the Sol Plaatje Municipality, successful.
City residents, who were without water for two days last week while the pipe, which has been leaking for more than two years, was repaired, expressed concern yesterday, pointing out that the hole had once again filled up with water.
Questions were raised whether the pipe was still leaking and if the water would again be switched off by the municipality