Khayelitsha community protests at Shoprite Plaza over employment concerns

Shoprite Plaza in Khayelitsha’s Site C was shut down on Thursday, June 19, during a peaceful protest led by community members demanding more employment opportunities and better support for local businesses.

From 7.30am to 10.00am, representatives from the Site C community, Site C Business Forum, Ward Development Forums 18 and 87, the South African National Civic Organisation, faith-based organisations, and concerned residents gathered outside the plaza.

Protesters said the demonstration was aimed at highlighting what they believe is the ongoing exclusion of local labour and businesses in the area.

Protesters alleged that Shoprite was failing to employ residents or offer local tenders for work such as painting. Some accused the retailer of treating locals “like foreigners in their own land”.

Site C Community spokesperson Melikhaya Yalwa said the protest followed more than two years of unsuccessful attempts to engage with Shoprite’s properties department. He added that, unlike other shopping centres, the Site C Shoprite Plaza lacked a community liaison officer or forum to maintain dialogue with local stakeholders.

Mr Yalwa said issues raised included a lack of access to evergreen procurement contracts for Site C businesses, no corporate social investment initiatives in the community, ongoing safety and security concerns at and around the plaza, no transparency or updates on the Shoprite Site C Trust Unemployment, and a lack of opportunities for local youth, total absence of a formal community engagement mechanism, and many more.

Mthunzi Qagana, Site C business forum chairperson, said locals are being sidelined.

He described the act by Shoprite as not just neglect but disrespect to a community that supports the store daily.

“Despite the peaceful nature of the picket, Shoprite responded by deploying armed security personnel, escalating tensions rather than engaging with leaders. Community representatives have stated they will report back to residents but will not be held responsible for any unrest that may arise if Shoprite continues to ignore Site C’s concerns,” he said.

Shoppers were turned away by angry community members who say the supermarket has ignored them for years.

A shopper Nokhuthazile Mntuyedwa said the protesters were doing the right thing. She, however, said the whole community should have been alerted to the action to be taken.

“I came here because I needed to buy a few things for my school child, but this protest was unexpected. I am not condemning it. But I feel it should have been better communicated,” she said.

Another shopper, Zizipho Ngqwela, was also not impressed with how the picket was handled. She also felt the community should have been told earlier. “I am fully behind them because I heard their demands. These are demands that will help the entire Site C. But shouldn’t this be known by all? Look now, we are surprised to see the picket. We should have been part of it,” she said.

Nkuleko Gaba said supermarkets in the townships should learn to work with the local community, employ residents, and give back to the area.

Vukani asked Shoprite for comment on several occasions, but no response had been received at the time of going to print.