Anti-Immigration Group Shuts Somali-Owned Stores in Mdantsane During ‘67 Minutes’ Action
An anti-immigration group in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, used its 67 minutes for Mandela Day on Friday to target foreign-owned businesses, ordering several to close and conducting what it described as “citizen’s arrests.”
Armed with sticks — some wrapped in the South African flag — members of the group moved through the busy Highway taxi rank, the commercial hub of the province’s largest township. Most of the businesses affected were salons and electronics repair shops owned by foreign nationals.
Madiba-Named Shops Forced to Close
Tensions escalated when the group confronted two Somali-owned outlets — Madiba Wholesalers and Madiba Shop — and ordered them to shut down indefinitely.
The owners questioned the basis for the closure, saying they had valid documentation.
“Don’t ask why, we are telling you to close this shop,” one group member told them.
“If you are saying we must close, tell us when we must open again,” said one of the owners, who identified himself only as Abdul.
The group refused to provide a timeframe, insisting the shops close without explanation.
Six Taken to Police Station
Six foreign nationals, mostly Zimbabweans, were taken to the Mdantsane NU1 police station for document verification.
In one incident, a young Zimbabwean woman working at a salon attempted to flee when confronted by the group but was chased down by three men.
“I am afraid,” she later said, adding that there were no proper transport arrangements to return home.
She was taken to the police station for document checks and warned not to return to the township.
Group Defends Action
One of the group’s leaders, Busisiwe Mpondo, said they had met with police station management before carrying out the operation.
“These foreign nationals are opening shops wherever they want, violating our municipal bylaws. Our activity today is our 67 minutes for Mandela. We have nothing to celebrate for Madiba’s birthday; our focus is to remove these foreign nationals from our area,” Mpondo said.
Another resident, Bhabha Mapipa, said the group had set a 30 June deadline and would intensify its campaign.
“We will continue to intensify our campaign against these foreign nationals until they are all out of our township,” he said.
‘Mandela Would Be Ashamed’
Abdul, who said he has lived in South Africa for 30 years, rejected the group’s actions.
“These people are not enforcing immigration laws, they are fighting us,” he said.
Asked why his stores were named after Nelson Mandela, Abdul replied: “Mandela is a global hero. That is why we named our shops after him. Mandela would be ashamed of what these people are doing. They are his opposite.”
Mandela Foundation Condemns Action
Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi condemned the actions in strong terms.
“We have learned with some alarm that there are people in the Eastern Cape who are talking about using the day to cleanse their cities of ‘illegal immigrants’. This is absolutely unacceptable, and we must say this unequivocally,” he said.
Buthelezi acknowledged that some South Africans have genuine concerns about undocumented migration and governance issues but stressed that such matters must be addressed through lawful and constitutional means.
“Chasing people from their homes is unacceptable, and this is something we must condemn. The Nelson Mandela Foundation condemns it in absolutely unequivocal terms,” he said.
As Mandela Day approaches, Buthelezi reminded citizens of the day’s purpose, quoting Mandela’s words at its 2009 launch: “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.”
He emphasised that Mandela Day is meant to be devoted to service and uplifting communities — not division.
