MEC condemns attacks on foreigners
2011-10-17 21:29
Johannesburg - Township residents should stop attacking foreign business people, Gauteng Economic Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said on Monday.
"Violent acts are an embarrassment to the country as they advance the narrow interests of those pretending to be business people," Mahlangu said in a statement.
"I wish those responsible for the protest can face the full might of the law."
Several businesses owned by foreign nationals in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, were broken into and looted last Thursday.
The violence began when a group of people threw stones onto the roof of a Somali-owned shop.
A woman was killed instantly when the shop owner who was inside fired several shots at the crowd.
Mahlangu sent condolences to the family of the woman.
She said the government had put in place plans that would support the Small and Medium Enterprises in the province with the aim of growing the economy and creating jobs.
"In one such initiative ... 100 000 young men and women entrepreneurs will be trained and assisted financially so that they can employ three and five people each to create one million jobs."
- SAPA
