Increasing incidents of violent crimes in Strand have spurred the call for spaza shops to close earlier to prevent owners and customers from falling prey to lurking criminals.
Strand police issued a letter last Tuesday (28 June) instructing informal convenience shops to amend closing times due to rising incidents of crime.
According to Colonel Khunjulwa Khanyile, Strand Police Station commander, the request for shop owners to close their shops by 21:00 comes after a sharp uptick in robberies and murders reported. “Robberies and murders are high in the area,” she stated in the letter issued.
On enquiry, Khanyile explained the request was to protect spaza shop owners and the communities that support them from being targeted in these violent crimes, and she asked owners to comply for their and others’ safety.
Jusuf Ali, a manager at Ramadan Shop in Rusthof for the past 15 years, expressed not being informed of the request, which comes at a cost. “We usually close just before 22:00,” he said. “Closing an hour earlier will affect us and we will lose a lot of business, because many locals still swing by the store for necessities after 21:00. But if it is safer for us and our customers then we will have to comply.”
John Benjamin, owner of Benjamin’s Discount Stores, said he decided to close up shop earlier despite not having received the letter for this request from authorities.
“We have not received this letter, but I have started to close down earlier at night due to the notable increase in crime in the area,” he explained, opting to suspend his business by 19:00.
Lucky Molofi, chairman of Sinobulumko Business Forum, confirmed spaza shops in the neighbouring township, including Nomzamo, also undertook to close earlier at night as robberies were rife in the area. “A week ago two spaza shops were targeted by armed robbers,” he said.
According to Molofi, although shop owners were not issued with the letter some took the initiative. However, the problem remains those who still close very late at night, especially in winter when it gets darker earlier and criminals see the opportunity to pounce.
“We urge everyone to comply and close at 21:00,” Molofi said.
