DA Councillor Gert Niemand recently made the Record aware of a potential xenophobic crisis that could erupt in Princess informal settlement.
Although not the only location, there is a structure on the corner of Van De Linde and Van De Linde Streets (yes, that is the location) bordering the settlement that Somali nationals “bought” from a South African citizen. This obviously is illegal since the squatters are squatting on municipal property.
The Somalis plan to open a spaza shop at this location right next to a South African citizen’s spaza shop.
The Record spoke to Sonny Boy Rambau to gauge not only his but this community’s feelings regarding foreigners in the settlement.
“I have a wife and four children to take care of, ” says Rambau.
“I can not afford competition right next to me. There is no other work out there for me and I fully depend on my spaza shop to care for my loved ones.
“The community also do not want them here, ” he said angrily.
When the Record asked him how the community would react, he motioned that there will be trouble of the violent kind.
Niemand also warned that this is a potentially explosive situation.
