Anna Majavu

Anna Majavu

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry has distanced itself from a group of Khayelitsha businessmen who have made threats against the lives of Somali traders in the area.

Last week, the Zanokhanyo Retailers Association (ZRA), which claimed to be a Nafcoc affiliate, warned Somali traders in writing that they should leave Khayelitsha by September 14 or face their wrath.

But Nafcoc Western Cape president Liwa Gunguluza says ZRA is not an affiliate of the organisation. Mandisi Njoli, Zakuthini Ndletyana and Zet Mhluthwa claim to be connected to a paramilitary army known as the Amabutho Internal Forces.

They also claim to be the Khayelitsha leaders of Nafcoc and have made threats against Somali traders under Nafcoc's name.

ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha said that charges of intimidation had been laid against Zanokhanyo Retailers Association.

"We are alarmed by this state of affairs and will make sure that our law enforcement agencies take on such people who want our communities to go up in flames," he said.

Meanwhile, displaced Somali trader Imam Abdullah Sheikh, 43, said he was reintegrated into Khayelitsha last week.

But a day later he received a threatening letter from Zanokhanyo.

Sheikh said he immediately left the area and returned to the Blue Waters displaced people's camp.