Packed Kwanokuthula meeting defuses foreign nationals issue

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Kwanokuthula Community Hall in Plettenberg Bay was packed by about 1000 people tonight as community leaders addressed the gathering, with Bitou Executive Mayor Dave Swart present, about a call to remove foreign nationals from the township.

Earlier in the day there were rumours on social media that a foreign national had been shot, but it turned out to be an armed robbery-related incident.

The meeting in the Simunye Community Hall at 17:30 tonight, 31 August, was addressed by leaders, mostly in isiXhosa, and many of the community spoke from the floor.

Swart said the meeting was held “in an extremely positive atmosphere”.

The leadership of the Residents Association and a representative of the Foreigners businesses advised the community of the agreements that have been put in place to assist the community with work and skills.

Swart said a “huge” appreciation and thanks needed to be extended to the officer commanding of SAPS in Kwanokuthula, Lt Colonel Xolile Gogwana, for the time spent in meetings with various stakeholders to mediate the concerns of the Kwanokuthula community.

Swart said the Kwanokuthula leadership had advised as follows:

The planned march, approved last week by the municipality, will still take place in Thursday 1 September to the Municipal Building to handover a petition to the Mayor at 12:00.
schools will be open
?people who want to go to work can go to work
?people who want to join to the march can join the march
?the march will be peaceful
?foreigners dealing in drugs have to leave Kwanokuthula.
?there are 69 shops in Kwanokuthula owned by foreign nationals. It was agreed that foreign nationals would reduce the number of shops they operate to give South African nationals an opportunity to open shops and trade.

The Kwanokuthula community is happy.

“The shooting that took place this morning was an armed robbery. The community was not involved. They are sad that a man lost his life.”

The Kwanokuthula Community Hall was packed for the meeting.