The spaza shop owners allegedly claimed the Somalians were killing their business by offering lower prices.

Last month they sent a letter giving the Somalians an ultimatum to close their shops.

While ANC president Jacob Zuma was attending a church service in the same area the aggrieved businessmen went beserk destroying the Somalian shops.

CJ Cash Carry owner, Ahmed Hassan, said they broke down the door and took cash, airtime worth R1 500 and damaged material in the store. It is estimated that in the looting the Somalian shop owners lost about R50 000.

“They came to our shop and started looting, but luckily the community didn’t support them,” said Kassim.

Councillor Mthwalo Mkutswana who was with the ANC president at the time, was called to intervene.

“I called an urgent meeting where the residents of Mandela Park made it clear that they were against the move to root out Somalians,” said Cllr Mkutswana.

He said Somalians like anybody else have a right to run businesses.

“Before these guys opened their shops they consulted us and the community is happy with their service,” he said.

Mkutswana said though he understands the grievances by locals, he condemn the way they conducted themselves.

Mandela Park resident Nowezile Dastile said local spaza owners had no reason to complain because they sell ayikho - not on stock - most of the times.

“They can’t drag us to their shops because we get good value for our money in these shops,” she said.

Harare SAPS commisioner Vossie Vosloo said five arrests were made and those arrested will appear in court soon.