Durban foreigners left high and dry
Clive Ndou
Foreigners are struggling to revive their businesses in Isipingo, south of Durban after the xenophobic att acks that saw them flee to refugee camps around the city recently.
Most of their shops have been vandalised, looted or taken over by South Africans, they say.
“All the equipment has been stolen, including customers’ goods that were in the shop.
“Customers wanting the cellphones they left at the shop for repairs are calling me all the time,” Lucien Musasa, a Democratic Republic of Congo national said.
Musasa, who is one of the thousands of foreigners who had to seek shelter in refugee camps during last month’s att acks, said the vandalised shop was just one thing on his endless list of challenges.
“When I went to the house I used to live in, I found it empty – they broke in and took everything, including clothes and groceries.
“I cannot continue living there because it has become unsafe – the windows, gates and windows have all been broken,” he said.
“I used to have a business and accommodation, but now I have nothing.”
Bavunge Michel from Burundi also faces an uncertain future.
“I had a thriving saloon business here next to the taxi rank, but I cannot continue with the business now.”
He bought the business from a South African man about five years ago.
“When I came out of the camp on Friday I went straight to the saloon but found the same guy I bought the business from had taken over.”
When Michel tried to get into the saloon to find out what was happening, he was threatened with violence.