Anna Majavu

Anna Majavu

Xenophobic attacks are threatening to erupt again in Khayelitsha as a paramilitary organisation - Amabutho Internal Forces (AIF), with close ties to Nafcoc - vows to stop Somali shopkeepers from returning to their businesses.

It has told them to get out of Khayelitsha by Sunday or face the consequences.

AIF general commander Zet Mhluthwa made the threats in the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Khayelitsha branch office.

Mhluthwa said: "The Somalis stepped on very wrong turf. Our spaza shops and saloons were all we had and they took those away."

Nafcoc Khayelitsha general secretary Mandisi Njoli said: "Nafcoc talks business. Amabutho Internal Forces talks politics."

They showed Sowetan a letter written by the Zanokhanyo Retailers' Association, a Nafcoc affiliate, to ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha .

The letter says that if their problems with Somali shopkeepers are "not well considered, we will resort to much higher actions that will include physically fighting for our rights".