South Africa February 2007 |
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| Harmony reigns as Somali traders and locals make peace, (Cape Argus, 2007-02-25):-Baraka is an Arabic word that means "blessed" - but it has become a term of derision used by locals when they want to speak to Somalis living here. Residents of Masiphumelele near Noordhoek and in other areas resent the Somalis' success in the small business sector. But, as Somali trader Hussien Ghedi explained, it was better than being called "makwere-kwere" - a derogatory term for African foreigners. And the lives of the refugees from the war-torn east African country have certainly improved since the time they were attacked and chased out of Masiphumelele. They now live and trade in harmony, and have made friends with the locals. This could be a lesson for Motherwell residents in Port Elizabeth, who last week attacked and looted shops owned by Somalians, forcing them to flee. The incident was apparently sparked by an attempted robbery at a Somali-owned store which led to the shooting and wounding of a 15-year-old boy. In Cape Town such incidents seem to be a thing of the past. Even the robbery of a Somalian shopkeeper two weeks ago did not damage the relationship, being seen by the Somalis as "normal criminal activity". In fact, locals have realised that they need their foreign neighbours' expertise. Nontembiso Madikane, former councillor for the area, said that on top of the affordable goods they sold, Somalis were helping school children with business assignments "and they can do a business plan better than teachers". After the xenophobia-related looting of at least 27 shops in the Peninsula, the Western Cape government instituted a peace process through Africa Unite, a non-profit organisation founded as a project of the Institute of Democracy in South Africa. The process included six weeks of workshops at which religious and community leaders, together with representatives of the refugees, were taught the importance of unity. That resulted in a community meeting and the Somalis later joined the Masiphumelele Business Association. The peace is set to be marked by a celebration on Human Rights Day on March 21. Madikane said the attacks, allegedly instigated by local business owners who used youths, were a result of business jealousy. Local traders resented the competition posed by the Somalis, "who are gifted entrepreneurs". The root cause of the problems had been a lack of business skills among the local traders, proper trading sites and locals' inability to get access to funds. She said Africa Unite had promised to train the local traders and help them get loans, among other things. The developing unity has given Doole Mohamed hope for the future. He lost his clothing store in last year's incidents, and is now employed by a fellow Somali. "I was selling clothes to avoid competing with local supermarkets. I still don't understand why I was targeted. Even my wife stays in Mitchell's Plain and still questions why am I still coming here. But things have improved and it seems that the peace will be maintained." Makhaya Manie, spokesman for the Community Safety Department, said the focus of the workshops was to unite residents and shopkeepers, and to make them understand that they needed one another. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |