Sunday 8,Dec, 2024 {HMC} Mohamed Ali Alasow, a Somali shopkeeper known for his resilience and generosity, was shot dead on Monday in Gugulethu, a township long marred by poverty and violence. His death adds to the mounting toll of Somali entrepreneurs targeted in South Africa, a country grappling with deep-seated xenophobia.
The assailants stormed Alasow’s modest shop, a lifeline for many in the local community. They opened fire without warning, looted cash and goods, and disappeared into the township’s labyrinthine streets.
Police arrived shortly after the incident but reported no immediate arrests or leads. Witnesses described the attack as swift and brutal, typical of a wider pattern of violence that has claimed the lives of numerous Somali traders over the years.
Locals eulogized Alasow as a trusted ally to his neighbours, extending credit to struggling families and forging friendships in an environment often hostile to outsiders. His killing has left both the Somali and local communities in shock, with many questioning how such violence has become so commonplace.
Alasow’s murder is the latest in a string of violent attacks against Somali nationals in South Africa, a country grappling with entrenched xenophobia. South Africa’s Somali traders, who have carved out livelihoods in the country’s informal economy, are frequently targeted by both criminal gangs and locals harbouring anti-immigrant sentiments. These attacks often spike toward the end of the year, driven by a toxic mix of economic desperation and xenophobic sentiment. “Every time we bury another brother, we wonder who will be next,” said Abdirahman Ahmed, a friend of the deceased.
The Somali community in South Africa began to grow in the early 2000s, with many fleeing conflict and poverty in their homeland. They established businesses in economically marginalized areas, filling gaps in local markets but also sparking resentment among struggling South Africans. The 2008 wave of xenophobic violence, which claimed over 60 lives, was a grim precursor to the recurring attacks that continue today. According to community leaders, at least 1,500 Somali nationals have been killed in South Africa over the past two decades.
Critics have long accused South African authorities of indifference. Police responses to such crimes are seen as superficial, with investigations rarely yielding results. The impunity, community leaders argue, only emboldens perpetrators.
The South African government has repeatedly condemned xenophobic violence and pledged to improve protections for foreign nationals. However, critics argue that these measures remain mainly symbolic. Somali traders often face extortion, lack of police support, and systemic barriers to justice.
The African Union and United Nations have called for stronger interventions, but the violence persists, leaving communities vulnerable and trust in law enforcement eroded.
The xenophobia crisis in South Africa remains a festering wound. Foreign nationals, especially those from African countries, are frequently scapegoated for the nation’s economic woes despite their contributions to local economies.
Many Somalis question whether South African authorities will finally act decisively to stem the tide of violence—or allow Alasow’s death to become another statistic.
Source Hiiraan Onlline
