Tuesday December 24, 2024
FILE – Local traders load up stock from shops on Durban Road, Korsten, Port Elizabeth. Photo: Masixole Feni
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (HOL) — Authorities in Durban, South Africa, launched a major operation in the neighbourhood known as “Little Somalia” on Monday, targeting unlicensed businesses and alleged by-law violations. According to local officials, the raid uncovered expired groceries, unmarked food products, and unauthorized meat.
Municipal security officials raided multiple properties at the busy intersection of Pietermaritz and Pine streets, confiscating goods that failed to meet local health and safety standards. “The area has been a hotspot for repeated violations,” said municipal spokesperson Ntobeko Mkhize, who highlighted concerns over illegal businesses and unapproved building extensions.
The operation is part of a campaign to enforce compliance with city regulations. Recent months have seen similar crackdowns, including the demolition of backyard structures housing hundreds of residents. Officials have described the neighborhood as a microcosm of broader urban challenges, where residential zones are increasingly converted into informal commercial hubs.
Witnesses described the raid as methodical, with confiscated items loaded into municipal vehicles under the watchful eyes of community members. Although authorities declined to specify the number of properties affected, they stressed that this operation was part of an ongoing initiative targeting non-compliant businesses citywide.
Nicknamed “Little Somalia” due to its predominantly Somali immigrant population, the area has faced increasing scrutiny from local authorities. During a similar raid in August, officials uncovered illegal extensions and unregulated living conditions, with Deputy Mayor Mxolisi Mkhize likening the backyard developments to a “township.”
Community leaders have raised concerns about the area’s association with criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human trafficking. Belinda Du Toit, chairperson of the Community Policing Forum, said collaborative efforts with law enforcement had made progress but warned that dismantling entrenched criminal networks remains a challenge. “We are addressing the symptoms, but the root causes of these activities persist,” Du Toit noted.
Ward Councillor Dante Kemp emphasized the need for effective communication, particularly with immigrant communities who may face language barriers. “If we want compliance, we need to engage people in their own languages,” Kemp said, advocating for multilingual outreach campaigns to improve awareness of municipal regulations.
