Letter: Abdul Patel’s words that he had not witnessed a violation of law in South Africa before adding to the concern of his relatives in the letter.
It’s been more than two decades since Abdul shifted to Johannesburg from Limbayat.
His brother and other family members spent the night without sleeping here since riots broke out in South Africa after the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma.
Like Patel, many families in South Gujarat are worried about the welfare of their loved ones who have moved to South Africa.
Many Gujarati Entrepreneurs settled in the country, especially those from the southern part of the country, have suffered great losses after rioting targeting their company.
When riots spread throughout the city such as Johannesburg, Durban and Phoenix, expatriates Gujarati bear the burden.
In Durban, who has a population of more than 10 lakh people from Indians, some business companies owned by Gujaratis have been targeted by rioters.
Brother Abdul Asif runs a grocery store at Limbayat.
Asif said that his brother had been forced to remain locked in his house along with his wife and two children for the past week.
“They can’t even go buy food,” said Asif.
Afroz Patel started the car business and business spare parts a few days ago.
His parents Saeed and Rahima, both retired school teachers, have invested all their savings in Afroz’s business.
The shop, a side by side and his house was destroyed by rioters four days ago.
Afroz and his wife managed to escape just a few minutes before rioters attacked their homes and shop.
“I have started a business a few days ago and everything was thrown out in a few minutes.
They even looted my house and now I take refuge in my relatives.
I might leave SA.
For the first time in my nine-year stay, I saw a situation like that , “Afroz told Toi.
“The value of more valuables than Rs 10 lakh rand is looted from our store.
They did not leave the spoon behind our son’s house,” said Saeed, who returned to his home village Tankariya in Bharuch district a few months ago.
Salwaruddin Patel, who runs a restaurant in Durban, has been hiding in his house for the past week.
“They can’t even go out for food or medicine because of riots.
Fortunately, rioters don’t target restaurants because they might think that they won’t find anything valuable there.
But all other neighboring shops are looted,” said Saffan Patel, Salwaruddin Brother Brother Salwaruddin , Not only entrepreneurs, even employees are targeted by rioters.
Reasuring an attack, Yasin Patel is 26 years old with his roommate leaving Johannesburg in a rental car in the middle of the night and crossing the border.
“Yasin went to SA looking for a better job two months ago.
At present, he took refuge in Lusaka, Zambia.
I advised him to return to India,” said Ilyas, his father, who worked as a tailor in a letter.