Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Economic Development has called on community members to report to police a group of entrepreneurs, who are spreading false information about the government’s stance on the conflict between local and foreign national businesses.
“Through text messages and pamphlets, the groupings have been calling meetings using the name of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and MEC Lebogang Maile to attract attention and gain legitimacy,” spokesperson for the Provincial Economic Department Phindile Kunene said.
The latest communication from the group called a meeting for Tuesday at Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto.
“These actions constitute a gross violation of the rights of foreign nationals who enjoy protection from the South African legislative prescripts and the Constitution.
“We believe that these groupings are a minority of business voices in our townships and this is the primary reason they resort to violence and criminal activities in the pursuit of their misguided cause,” Kunene said.
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile has condemned the group of entrepreneurs.
“We appeal to members of the community to approach law enforcement agencies with any information about the ringleaders of this deceitful and criminal campaign,” Kunene said.
She said the violent campaign that is pursued through disinformation tactics was a stumbling block to any efforts to foster cooperation and peaceful coexistence between migrants and local entrepreneurs operating in townships.
“While we acknowledge and sympathise with the myriad of challenges facing local businesses in townships, we cannot be held at ransom by criminal elements that preach the gospel of violence against foreign nationals and disrupt any effort to find lasting solutions to these challenges,” Kunene said.
She urge genuine township entrepreneurs to continue to work with the Gauteng government in the implementation of the Township Economy Revitalisation Strategy, which was a product of widespread consultation with 50 000 entrepreneurs located in over 65 townships of the province. – SAnews.gov.za
