A group of residents in Soweto, led by a group called Soweto Uprising 2026, stormed a foreign-owned spaza shop on Khumalo Street, removing stock and placing it outside. The shop, known as fana spaza shop, has been a point of contention for the community, who claim they want such businesses to be occupied by South Africans. The situation remains volatile, with Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers on the scene.
The protest, which began earlier on October 8, 2026, has seen at least 10 cars set alight during clashes between residents and foreign nationals. Firefighters were also present at the scene, extinguishing fires from the torched vehicles. According to Lungile Yende, one of the leaders of the protest, the community is not looting the store but rather making space for a South African to take over the business.
Yende emphasized that the community members are removing products from the store to make way for a new owner. "These are Sowetans taking the things out. This is not looting. We want them to go out so that South Africans can take over this place," he said. The community members are reportedly waiting for the shop owners to collect the stock.
The incident is part of a larger trend of tensions in Soweto, with residents protesting against what they perceive as illegal immigration. Earlier on the same day, cars were torched in Orlando West as residents protested against foreign nationals. The situation in Soweto remains volatile, with authorities urging calm.
The protests in Soweto are not isolated, as similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the country. In Durban, at least 11 cars were torched during anti-illegal immigration marches. The government has since urged calm and called for an end to the violence.
The issue of foreign-owned businesses has been a contentious one in South Africa, with some arguing that they contribute to unemployment and economic instability. However, others argue that such businesses provide essential services and create jobs. The situation in Soweto highlights the complex and often fraught nature of this debate.
The authorities have deployed law enforcement officers to maintain order and restore calm in the affected areas. The situation remains fluid, with residents and authorities working to find a resolution to the tensions.
Key points
- Residents in Soweto stormed a foreign-owned spaza shop, demanding it be occupied by South Africans.
- The incident is part of a larger trend of tensions in Soweto, with residents protesting against what they perceive as illegal immigration.
- The situation remains volatile, with authorities urging calm and working to find a resolution to the tensions.
