TO: PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA HOUSES
FROM: KGANKI MATABANE
DATE: 14 May 2020
SUBJECT: THE BBC SUPPORTS CLOSURE OF BUSINESSES OWNED BY UNDOCUMENTED FOREIGN NATIONALS
The Black Business Council (BBC) supports the closure of businesses in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) owned by undocumented foreign nationals.
This follows the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, working with the Department of Employment and Labour, Home Affairs’ Immigration Unit, Durban Metro Police, Crime Intelligence and other law enforcement agencies closing down more than 50 foreign-owned businesses for selling expired goods and operating without licenses.
“The BBC condemns any and all forms of lawless commercial activity – especially when they compromise the health and endanger the lives of South African citizens. Expired food is compromised and has a very high potential of getting our people sick. Undocumented foreigners in South Africa should either be subjected to a statutory regularisation process or repatriated without hesitation. Those who engage in wanton criminality should have the law book thrown at them. The actions of the KZN government are truly exemplary. They should be extended to the entire country in order to restore law and order and ensure that all businesses – be they big or small, and formal or informal – operate within the ambit of the law” said Sandile Zungu, BBC President.