“Taking Back Control: Are We Losing Our Communities to Foreign Interests?”

Mananigo’s Weekly Perspective:

By Ananias Ndlovu

Greetings, readers! This week, let’s look at a growing concern that’s shaping the landscape of local business and services here in South Africa. Foreign nationals have taken on significant roles in our communities, but this shift raises a crucial question: are we, as South Africans, doing enough to shape and control our own economy and standards of living? Please understand – I’m not Xenophobic.

Take a look around, and you’ll see foreign nationals embedded in nearly every sector. Local spaza shops, once neighborhood staples, are now primarily run by Pakistanis, Ethiopians, and Somalians. Our fish and chips shops are often managed by Portuguese nationals, while car repairs are largely handled by mechanics from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Phone repairs and accessories? Indians and Bangladeshis have cornered that market.

In our homes, many domestic workers come from Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Security services, essential for our safety, are increasingly staffed by guards from Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Budget guesthouses catering to daily travelers? You’ll find Ugandan nationals operating those. Then, in our private education sector, teachers and academic staff from Zimbabwe and Nigeria are educating our children. And of course, many of the imported goods—often cheap and sometimes of questionable quality—come from Chinese businesses.

We must ask ourselves: how did it come to this? When did we lose control over so many of our essential services and local industries? Recently, tragic cases of children allegedly falling ill after consuming items from these spaza shops have raised serious concerns. Are safety and health standards being consistently met in our communities, or have we normalized low standards because they’re affordable and accessible?

The South African law requires that foreign-owned businesses invest in the local economy and hire a majority of local staff. But on the ground, how often do we see these regulations being followed? The truth is, without proper enforcement and community accountability, it’s local South Africans who ultimately pay the price.

Our community leaders, traditional authorities, and each of us as citizens need to take this situation seriously. This isn’t about shutting anyone out; it’s about reclaiming control over our neighborhoods, insisting on accountability, and ensuring that the resources of South Africa are managed with the best interests of its people in mind.

It’s time we take back ownership of our communities. Let’s encourage South Africans to support and build their own businesses, demand higher standards, and stop normalizing situations that don’t serve us well. I’m still saying – I’m not Xenophobic – South Africa tsoga.

Until next week, let’s keep this conversation going. Our future depends on it.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this column are solely those of Ananias Ndlovu and do not reflect the official stance or opinions of Naledi News or Quick Acts Consultancy Services.

Yours truly,
Mananigo