A significant number of foreigners operating tuck shops across Bloemfontein townships have continued with their business operations after a recent shutdown.
They were forced to close abruptly on the night of Thursday, 7 November, following the sporadic looting.
Looters targeted tuck shops owned by Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals, forcing them to flee. During this ransacking, food items were taken.
This came as foreign-owned tuck shops were blamed for the 47 learners of the Ihobe Primary School in Phahameng, Bloemfontein, who fell ill after consuming suspected expired items. The learners have since fully recovered after receiving treatment at the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital for suspected food poisoning cases.
Learners reportedly purchased food items from some of the vendors trading at the school.
The looting spree proved to be a double-edged sword. Several consumers were left stranded alongside foreign business owners, who fled out of fear for their safety. Consumers have since been struggling to purchase basic items such as bread, airtime, milk, data, and electricity.
Some of the shop-keepers told BloemExpress that they have decided to take a risk in reopening with limited stock. Some trade under security.
“We received calls from some community members, urging us to reopen, saying they are suffering to access basic items,” said the tuck shop keeper who wished to remain anonymous, citing safety.
Several foreign nationals – be it Ethiopian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi – operate tuck shops and mini supermarkets in Bloemfontein townships, parts of the CBD, as well as in the more suburban areas.
Those trading within Bloemfontein even have fully-fledged one-stop warehouses where they their keep stock. Several local consumers purchase goods from the warehouse.
In the wake of widespread attack and accusation of foreign-owned tuck shops, on Friday, 15 November, Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa called for the registration of tuck shops and street vendors within the period of 21 days.
He highlighted the measures by government to address the food-borne illness crisis.
The number of foreign nationals trading as tuck shops keepers and vendors in Bloemfontein is unknown.
According to surveys, tuck shop trading (dubbed the “township economy”) generates about R900 billion in terms of meeting the country’s demand for food and basic necessities.
