Two foreign business owners say they will not flee on 30 June, but will exercise caution.

TygerBurger spoke to Mohamed (sic) and Tanvir from Somalia and Bangladesh respectively, after a countrywide anti-immigration protest called March and March is planned for 30 June.

No problems

Mohamed, a spaza shopkeeper, says he has never had problems in the community he serves. “I have been here for nine years and only in the beginning did street criminals try to intimidate me. After that, the community accepted me as part of their own. Some of the people even buy necessities on ‘the book’ (credit). Even the children know my name,” says Mohamed, who does not want his shop’s location made known out of “caution” and not “fear”.

According to Mohamed, he will only show his legal documents to official delegates of the government and not to anyone asking for them. “I am here legally, and that is all that matters. I chose South Africa as the place where I want to live till the end of my time. When I arrived on this street, there was no shop, so I never took anyone’s shop or job. Even if you ask, I will help you with information on how to open your own shop,” he says.

Tanvir, a barber, says he is living his best life in South Africa. “We are two brothers and three cousins and we have been here for different amounts of time. I have been here for the shortest time, but since arriving I have found South Africans to be friendly and welcoming people. Obviously you always get some people who make fun of how we speak or whatever, but we are foreigners in their country. It is understandable. We had one attempted break-in, but the rest of the time we render a service that is lacking in the surrounding community,” says Tanvir.

Cautious but calm

Asked about the mood amongst his fellow countrymen, he says, “cautious but calm”. “Amongst a million people there could be ten who have violent tendencies, so we must be on the lookout. Maybe we will close for the day, but I am sure the community will look after us. We have built relationships here and hopefully no violence will come to us. We want everyone to live in peace,” says Tanvir.

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