Gauteng MEC slams Orange Farm convenience store arson as community reels

A newly revamped Orange Farm convenience store has been reduced to ashes in what authorities believe was an arson attack, sparking outrage in the community and condemnation from Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile.

Threats before the fire

Store owner Xolani Lamani reopened his upgraded store in June, adding a grocery section after securing a loan of more than R570,000 from the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller. His expansion was hailed as a success story for township entrepreneurship.

But the business faced immediate resistance. Lamani says he received threatening calls from an unknown individual warning him to stop trading because he was “taking bread from his bosses.” Three months later, his store went up in flames.

MEC Maile responds

Visiting the site on Sunday, Maile condemned the attack, calling it an assault on both an individual entrepreneur and the broader township economy.

“We condemn in the strongest terms these acts of hooliganism and call on law enforcement officials to bring the perpetrators to book,” said Maile.

He added that entrepreneurs like Lamani are vital to local development. “This is a huge blow to the township economy in Gauteng because Xolani is one of the successful proper entrepreneurs. These are the people that we always talk about. We need people like him who are always ready to dirty their hands and are prepared to build businesses from scratch.”

Violence in Orange Farm

The arson attack comes amid growing unease in Orange Farm following the discovery of a body last week. Police confirmed that the remains belong to a 33-year-old spaza shop owner found in Extension 4 on August 21. A murder case has been opened, but no arrests have been made.

Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said investigations into both the fire and the killing are ongoing.

A blow to township businesses

The attack has rattled other small business owners in Orange Farm, where many traders already face extortion, crime, and competition from larger chains. Community members have expressed anger and frustration on social media, questioning why entrepreneurs who provide jobs and services are being targeted.

For now, Lamani’s once-thriving convenience store is a shell, its shelves reduced to ash. But his story has reignited debate about what protections township entrepreneurs receive, and whether enough is being done to safeguard the backbone of the local economy.

{Source: IOL}

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