CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>      <html itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Webpage" class="no-js" lang="en"> <head> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn01.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn01.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn02.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn02.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn03.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn03.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn04.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn04.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn05.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn05.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn06.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn06.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn07.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn07.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn08.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn08.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn09.allafrica.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn09.allafrica.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://clickiocmp.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://clickiocmp.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://s.clickiocdn.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://s.clickiocdn.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.google-analytics.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.google-analytics.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com"> <link as="script" href="https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/js/jquery/jquery-1.9.1.min.js?v=2025011000" rel="preload"> <link as="script" href="https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/js/bootstrap/3.3.7/bootstrap.min.js?v=2025011000" rel="preload"> <link as="script" href="https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/application.min.js?v=2025011000" rel="preload"> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta itemprop="description" content="Spaza shops have been a key topic in South Africa's online xenophobic dialogue for years because many of these convenience stores are owned by Africans from other parts of the continent. The call for the closure of these spaza shops continues to gain traction online, with anonymous accounts and self-appointed "news" channels sharing anti-immigrant narratives, reports the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change  (CABC)."> <meta itemprop="image" content="https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1200.jpg"> <meta itemprop="name" content="South Africa: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy"> <meta name="description" content="Spaza shops have been a key topic in South Africa's online xenophobic dialogue for years because many of these convenience stores are owned by Africans from other parts of the continent. The call for the closure of these spaza shops continues to gain traction online, with anonymous accounts and self-appointed "news" channels sharing anti-immigrant narratives, reports the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change  (CABC)."> <meta name="facebook-domain-verification" content="3xuju9s7i37gmaj9exdgd1abrykiyb"> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="bGxG4qeN9up-gMXKjsgylykqjVrzxLjg1rQrP3K-rJk"> <meta name="keywords" content="Africa, news, politics, economy, trade, business, sports, current events, travel, South Africa, Southern Africa, Governance, Legal and Judicial Affairs, Health and Medicine, Food and Agriculture"> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="72401C28AAAC95E8D3FF1881A90F2C4D"> <meta name="robots" content="noarchive"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Spaza shops have been a key topic in South Africa's online xenophobic dialogue for years because many of these convenience stores are owned by Africans from other parts of the continent. The call for the closure of these spaza shops continues to gain traction online, with anonymous accounts and self-appointed "news" channels sharing anti-immigrant narratives, reports the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change  (CABC)."> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1200.jpg"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@allafrica"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="South Africa: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2025-02-11T15:59:59+0000"> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-12-02T13:09:21+0000"> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/allafrica"> <meta property="article:section" content="News"> <meta property="article:tag" content="South Africa"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Southern Africa"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Governance"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Legal and Judicial Affairs"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Health and Medicine"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Food and Agriculture"> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="100369188719"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="98946450029"> <meta property="og:description" content="Spaza shops have been a key topic in South Africa's online xenophobic dialogue for years because many of these convenience stores are owned by Africans from other parts of the continent. The call for the closure of these spaza shops continues to gain traction online, with anonymous accounts and self-appointed &quot;news&quot; channels sharing anti-immigrant narratives, reports the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change  (CABC)."> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1200.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="416"> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="680"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="allAfrica.com"> <meta property="og:title" content="South Africa: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy"> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://allafrica.com/stories/202412020426.html"> <style> .carousel-container.uninitialized,.carousel-container.initializing{visibility:hidden;height:0;overflow: hidden;} .carousel-container.initialized{visibility:visible;} .operamini .carousel-single .carousel-container.uninitialized{visibility:visible;height:auto;} .operamini .owl-carousel-wrapper .owl-carousel-container .owl-carousel{display: block;} .operamini .owl-carousel-wrapper .owl-carousel-container .owl-carousel .item + .item{display:none;} </style> <style> div.ad-container.pixel-ad{width:1px;height:1px;}div.ad-container.photoessay{width:300px;height:250px;float:none;}.superleaderboard-a > div > iframe{display:block;margin:0 auto;}.container.subnav{min-height:6px;background-color:#fff;}div.ad-container.superleaderboard-ad{margin:0 auto;}.container.subnav .row.ads,.column.main .section.ads,.ad-container.gpt-ad.pixel-a,.ad-container.gpt-ad.pixel-b{display:none;}.outer-ad-container,.ad-container{line-height:0;font-size:0;}body.aans.view .story-body .gpt-outer-ad-container{display:block;float:none;padding:0;margin:0 auto;}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::before,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::after{content:"";display:block;border-color:#d2d2d2;border-style:solid;border-width:0;padding:0;}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::before{font-family:"Proxima Nova",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:10px;min-height:10px;line-height:1;text-align:center;color:#999;padding:7.5px 0 7.5px;}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::before{margin:25px auto 0;border-top-width:1px;}:lang(en) body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::before{content:"Advertisement - Continue Reading Below";}:lang(fr) body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::before{content:"Publicité - Continuer la lecture ci-dessous";}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .outer-ad-container::after{height:0;margin:0 auto 25px;padding-bottom:25px;border-bottom-width:1px;}.column.main .section.ads.center-a{display:block;}.column.main div.ad-container.center-ad{margin:0 auto;}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body div.ad-container.inread-ad,.column.main div.ad-container.center-ad{width:125px;height:125px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{display:none;}.column.aside div.ad-container,div.ad-container.right-ad,div.ad-container.center-ad,div.ad-container.right{float:none;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{overflow:hidden;margin:0 auto;margin-bottom:35px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-b{margin-top:35px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{width:125px;height:125px;}@media only screen and (min-width: 200px){body.aans.view .column.main .story-body div.ad-container.inread-ad,.column.main div.ad-container.center-ad{width:200px;height:200px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{width:200px;height:200px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 280px){body.aans.view .column.main .story-body div.ad-container.inread-ad,.column.main div.ad-container.center-ad{width:250px;height:250px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{width:250px;height:250px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 320px){.container.subnav .row.ads{display:block;}.container.subnav .row.ads .ad-container{margin-top:35px;margin-bottom:35px;}.container.subnav div.ad-container.superleaderboard-ad{width:320px;min-height:250px;margin:0 auto;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:initial;}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body div.ad-container.inread-ad,.column.main div.ad-container.center-ad{width:300px;min-height:250px;max-height:600px;overflow:hidden;margin:0 auto;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{width:300px;height:250px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 360px){body.aans.view .column.main .story-body div.ad-container.inread-ad,.column.main div.ad-container.center-ad{width:336px;height:280px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{width:336px;height:280px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){.column.main .section.ads{display:block;}div.ad-container.banner-ad{width:468px;height:60px;margin:0 auto;}div.ad-container.banner-ad{width:468px;height:60px;}.container.subnav div.ad-container.superleaderboard-ad{min-width:initial;min-height:initial;width:468px;height:60px;overflow:hidden;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 768px){.container.subnav div.ad-container.superleaderboard-ad{width:970px;min-width:initial;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:initial;}.container.subnav div.ad-container.superleaderboard-ad{height:250px;}.container.subnav div.ad-container.superleaderboard-ad{display:-webkit-box;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;align-items:center;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{display:block;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-ad{width:300px;height:250px;}.column.aside div.ad-container.right-a{height:600px;}}ins{text-decoration:none;} </style> <style> @font-face{font-family:'FontAwesome';src:url(https://cdn06.allafrica.com/static/fonts/font-awesome/4.7.0/fontawesome-webfont.eot?v=4.7.0);src:url(https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/fonts/font-awesome/4.7.0/fontawesome-webfont.eot?#iefix&v=4.7.0) format('embedded-opentype'),url(https://cdn06.allafrica.com/static/fonts/font-awesome/4.7.0/fontawesome-webfont.woff2?v=4.7.0) format('woff2'),url(https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/fonts/font-awesome/4.7.0/fontawesome-webfont.woff?v=4.7.0) format('woff'),url(https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/fonts/font-awesome/4.7.0/fontawesome-webfont.ttf?v=4.7.0) format('truetype'),url(https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/fonts/font-awesome/4.7.0/fontawesome-webfont.svg?v=4.7.0#fontawesomeregular) format('svg');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-display:swap;}.fa{display:inline-block;font:normal normal normal 14px/1 FontAwesome;font-size:inherit;text-rendering:auto;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;}.fa-search:before{content:"\f002";}.fa-envelope-o:before{content:"\f003";}.fa-remove:before,.fa-close:before,.fa-times:before{content:"\f00d";}.fa-arrow-left:before{content:"\f060";}.fa-twitter-square:before{content:"\f081";}.fa-facebook-square:before{content:"\f082";}.fa-linkedin-square:before{content:"\f08c";}.fa-angle-double-left:before{content:"\f100";}.fa-angle-double-right:before{content:"\f101";}.fa-rss-square:before{content:"\f143";}.fa-user-o:before{content:"\f2c0";}.fa-telegram:before{content:"\f2c6";}.sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);border:0;} .col-tn-1,.col-tn-2,.col-tn-3,.col-tn-4,.col-tn-5,.col-tn-6,.col-tn-7,.col-tn-8,.col-tn-9,.col-tn-10,.col-tn-11,.col-tn-12,.col-xxs-1,.col-xxs-2,.col-xxs-3,.col-xxs-4,.col-xxs-5,.col-xxs-6,.col-xxs-7,.col-xxs-8,.col-xxs-9,.col-xxs-10,.col-xxs-11,.col-xxs-12{min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px;position:relative;}.col-tn-1,.col-tn-2,.col-tn-3,.col-tn-4,.col-tn-5,.col-tn-6,.col-tn-7,.col-tn-8,.col-tn-9,.col-tn-10,.col-tn-11,.col-tn-12{float:left;}.col-tn-12{width:100%;}.col-tn-6{width:50%;} html{font-family:sans-serif;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;}body{margin:0;}article,aside,details,figcaption,figure,footer,header,hgroup,main,menu,nav,section,summary{display:block;}a{background-color:transparent;}b,strong{font-weight:bold;}h1{margin:.67em 0;font-size:2em;}img{border:0;}svg:not(:root){overflow:hidden;}button,input,optgroup,select,textarea{margin:0;font:inherit;color:inherit;}button{overflow:visible;}button,select{text-transform:none;}button,html input[type="button"],input[type="reset"],input[type="submit"]{-webkit-appearance:button;cursor:pointer;}input{line-height:normal;}input[type="checkbox"],input[type="radio"]{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}table{border-spacing:0;border-collapse:collapse;}td,th{padding:0;}*{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;}*:before,*:after{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;}html{font-size:10px;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);}body{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.42857143;color:#333;background-color:#fff;}input,button,select,textarea{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;}a{color:#337ab7;text-decoration:none;}img{vertical-align:middle;}.img-responsive,.thumbnail > img,.thumbnail a > img,.carousel-inner > .item > img,.carousel-inner > .item > a > img{display:block;max-width:100%;height:auto;}.sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);border:0;}[role="button"]{cursor:pointer;}h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,.h1,.h2,.h3,.h4,.h5,.h6{font-family:inherit;font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;}h1,.h1,h2,.h2,h3,.h3{margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px;}h4,.h4,h5,.h5,h6,.h6{margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;}h1,.h1{font-size:36px;}h2,.h2{font-size:30px;}h4,.h4{font-size:18px;}p{margin:0 0 10px;}ul,ol{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px;}ul ul,ol ul,ul ol,ol ol{margin-bottom:0;}.container{padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;}@media (min-width: 768px){.container{width:750px;}}@media (min-width: 992px){.container{width:970px;}}@media (min-width: 1200px){.container{width:1170px;}}.row{margin-right:-15px;margin-left:-15px;}.col-xs-1,.col-sm-1,.col-md-1,.col-lg-1,.col-xs-2,.col-sm-2,.col-md-2,.col-lg-2,.col-xs-3,.col-sm-3,.col-md-3,.col-lg-3,.col-xs-4,.col-sm-4,.col-md-4,.col-lg-4,.col-xs-5,.col-sm-5,.col-md-5,.col-lg-5,.col-xs-6,.col-sm-6,.col-md-6,.col-lg-6,.col-xs-7,.col-sm-7,.col-md-7,.col-lg-7,.col-xs-8,.col-sm-8,.col-md-8,.col-lg-8,.col-xs-9,.col-sm-9,.col-md-9,.col-lg-9,.col-xs-10,.col-sm-10,.col-md-10,.col-lg-10,.col-xs-11,.col-sm-11,.col-md-11,.col-lg-11,.col-xs-12,.col-sm-12,.col-md-12,.col-lg-12{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;}@media (min-width: 480px){.col-xs-1,.col-xs-2,.col-xs-3,.col-xs-4,.col-xs-5,.col-xs-6,.col-xs-7,.col-xs-8,.col-xs-9,.col-xs-10,.col-xs-11,.col-xs-12{float:left;}.col-xs-12{width:100%;}.col-xs-6{width:50%;}}@media (min-width: 768px){.col-sm-1,.col-sm-2,.col-sm-3,.col-sm-4,.col-sm-5,.col-sm-6,.col-sm-7,.col-sm-8,.col-sm-9,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-11,.col-sm-12{float:left;}.col-sm-8{width:66.66666667%;}.col-sm-7{width:58.33333333%;}.col-sm-6{width:50%;}.col-sm-5{width:41.66666667%;}.col-sm-4{width:33.33333333%;}}table{background-color:transparent;}label{display:inline-block;max-width:100%;margin-bottom:5px;font-weight:bold;}input[type="radio"],input[type="checkbox"]{margin:4px 0 0;margin-top:1px \9;line-height:normal;}.form-control{display:block;width:100%;height:34px;padding:6px 12px;font-size:14px;line-height:1.42857143;color:#555;background-color:#fff;background-image:none;border:1px solid #ccc;border-radius:4px;-webkit-box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,.075);box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,.075);-webkit-transition:border-color ease-in-out .15s,-webkit-box-shadow ease-in-out .15s;-o-transition:border-color ease-in-out .15s,box-shadow ease-in-out .15s;transition:border-color ease-in-out .15s,box-shadow ease-in-out .15s;}.form-control::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:#999;}.radio input[type="radio"],.radio-inline input[type="radio"],.checkbox input[type="checkbox"],.checkbox-inline input[type="checkbox"]{position:absolute;margin-top:4px \9;margin-left:-20px;}.radio-inline,.checkbox-inline{position:relative;display:inline-block;padding-left:20px;margin-bottom:0;font-weight:normal;vertical-align:middle;cursor:pointer;}.radio-inline + .radio-inline,.checkbox-inline + .checkbox-inline{margin-top:0;margin-left:10px;}.btn{display:inline-block;padding:6px 12px;margin-bottom:0;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.42857143;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;-ms-touch-action:manipulation;touch-action:manipulation;cursor:pointer;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:4px;}.btn:active,.btn.active{background-image:none;outline:0;-webkit-box-shadow:inset 0 3px 5px rgba(0,0,0,.125);box-shadow:inset 0 3px 5px rgba(0,0,0,.125);}.btn-default{color:#333;background-color:#fff;border-color:#ccc;}.btn-default:active,.btn-default.active,.open > .dropdown-toggle.btn-default{color:#333;background-color:#e6e6e6;border-color:#adadad;}.btn-default:active,.btn-default.active,.open > .dropdown-toggle.btn-default{background-image:none;}.btn-success{color:#fff;background-color:#5cb85c;border-color:#4cae4c;}.btn-sm,.btn-group-sm > .btn{padding:5px 10px;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5;border-radius:3px;}.fade{opacity:0;-webkit-transition:opacity .15s linear;-o-transition:opacity .15s linear;transition:opacity .15s linear;}.collapse{display:none;}.collapse.in{display:block;}.collapsing{position:relative;height:0;overflow:hidden;-webkit-transition-timing-function:ease;-o-transition-timing-function:ease;transition-timing-function:ease;-webkit-transition-duration:.35s;-o-transition-duration:.35s;transition-duration:.35s;-webkit-transition-property:height,visibility;-o-transition-property:height,visibility;transition-property:height,visibility;}.btn-group,.btn-group-vertical{position:relative;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;}.btn-group > .btn,.btn-group-vertical > .btn{position:relative;float:left;}.btn-group > .btn:hover,.btn-group-vertical > .btn:hover,.btn-group > .btn:focus,.btn-group-vertical > .btn:focus,.btn-group > .btn:active,.btn-group-vertical > .btn:active,.btn-group > .btn.active,.btn-group-vertical > .btn.active{z-index:2;}.btn-group .btn + .btn,.btn-group .btn + .btn-group,.btn-group .btn-group + .btn,.btn-group .btn-group + .btn-group{margin-left:-1px;}.btn-group > .btn:first-child{margin-left:0;}.btn-group > .btn:first-child:not(:last-child):not(.dropdown-toggle){border-top-right-radius:0;border-bottom-right-radius:0;}.btn-group > .btn:last-child:not(:first-child),.btn-group > .dropdown-toggle:not(:first-child){border-top-left-radius:0;border-bottom-left-radius:0;}.input-group{position:relative;display:table;border-collapse:separate;}.input-group .form-control{position:relative;z-index:2;float:left;width:100%;margin-bottom:0;}.input-group-sm > .form-control,.input-group-sm > .input-group-addon,.input-group-sm > .input-group-btn > .btn{height:30px;padding:5px 10px;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5;border-radius:3px;}.input-group-addon,.input-group-btn,.input-group .form-control{display:table-cell;}.input-group-addon,.input-group-btn{width:1%;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;}.input-group .form-control:first-child,.input-group-addon:first-child,.input-group-btn:first-child > .btn,.input-group-btn:first-child > .btn-group > .btn,.input-group-btn:first-child > .dropdown-toggle,.input-group-btn:last-child > .btn:not(:last-child):not(.dropdown-toggle),.input-group-btn:last-child > .btn-group:not(:last-child) > .btn{border-top-right-radius:0;border-bottom-right-radius:0;}.input-group .form-control:last-child,.input-group-addon:last-child,.input-group-btn:last-child > .btn,.input-group-btn:last-child > .btn-group > .btn,.input-group-btn:last-child > .dropdown-toggle,.input-group-btn:first-child > .btn:not(:first-child),.input-group-btn:first-child > .btn-group:not(:first-child) > .btn{border-top-left-radius:0;border-bottom-left-radius:0;}.input-group-btn{position:relative;font-size:0;white-space:nowrap;}.input-group-btn > .btn{position:relative;}.input-group-btn:last-child > .btn,.input-group-btn:last-child > .btn-group{z-index:2;margin-left:-1px;}.navbar-btn{margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:8px;}.navbar-btn.btn-sm{margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;}.alert{padding:15px;margin-bottom:20px;border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:4px;}.alert-success{color:#3c763d;background-color:#dff0d8;border-color:#d6e9c6;}.alert-danger{color:#a94442;background-color:#f2dede;border-color:#ebccd1;}.close{float:right;font-size:21px;font-weight:bold;line-height:1;color:#000;text-shadow:0 1px 0 #fff;filter:alpha(opacity=20);opacity:.2;}button.close{-webkit-appearance:none;padding:0;cursor:pointer;background:transparent;border:0;}.modal{position:fixed;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1050;display:none;overflow:hidden;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;outline:0;}.clearfix:before,.clearfix:after,.dl-horizontal dd:before,.dl-horizontal dd:after,.container:before,.container:after,.container-fluid:before,.container-fluid:after,.row:before,.row:after,.form-horizontal .form-group:before,.form-horizontal .form-group:after,.btn-toolbar:before,.btn-toolbar:after,.btn-group-vertical > .btn-group:before,.btn-group-vertical > .btn-group:after,.nav:before,.nav:after,.navbar:before,.navbar:after,.navbar-header:before,.navbar-header:after,.navbar-collapse:before,.navbar-collapse:after,.pager:before,.pager:after,.panel-body:before,.panel-body:after,.modal-header:before,.modal-header:after,.modal-footer:before,.modal-footer:after{display:table;content:" ";}.clearfix:after,.dl-horizontal dd:after,.container:after,.container-fluid:after,.row:after,.form-horizontal .form-group:after,.btn-toolbar:after,.btn-group-vertical > .btn-group:after,.nav:after,.navbar:after,.navbar-header:after,.navbar-collapse:after,.pager:after,.panel-body:after,.modal-header:after,.modal-footer:after{clear:both;} html,body,div,span,object,iframe,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,blockquote,pre,abbr,address,cite,code,del,dfn,em,img,ins,kbd,q,samp,small,strong,sub,sup,var,b,i,dl,dt,dd,ol,ul,li,fieldset,form,label,legend,mark,table,caption,tbody,tfoot,thead,tr,th,td,.canvas,.details,.figure,.masthead,.hgroup,.menu,.nav,.section,.summary,.time,.audio,.video{margin:0;padding:0;border:0;outline:0;vertical-align:baseline;background-color:transparent;}.details,.figure,.masthead,.hgroup,.menu,.nav,.section{display:block;}a{margin:0;padding:0;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;}a.external.external-icon::after{vertical-align:baseline;font-size:65%;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;margin-left:.5rem;content:'\f08e';font-family:FontAwesome;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-variant:normal;text-rendering:auto;}table{border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;}input,select{vertical-align:middle;}body{background-color:#f4f4f4;color:#333;font-family:"Arial","Liberation Sans",sans-serif;font-size:13px;}a{color:#10579f;text-decoration:none;}h1,h2{font-size:16px;}body > .container,body > .sticky-masthead > .container{overflow:hidden;}body > .container.mid,body > .container.bottom{background-color:#fff;}@media (min-width: 1200px){body > .container,body > .sticky-masthead > .container{width:1170px;}body{min-width:1170px;}}body.aans.view.sponsored .column.main,body.aans.view.sponsored .column.aside{margin-top:20px;}.container.mid .column.main,.container.mid .column.aside{margin-top:15px;}@media only screen and (min-width: 768px){.container.mid .column.main,.container.mid .column.aside{margin-top:20px;}}.container.mid .column.main{z-index:2;}body > .container{padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;}.widget-label{color:#333333;line-height:1;display:inline-block;}a.widget-label:after,a.cell-label:after,a.item-label:after{content:"\f101";font-family:FontAwesome;font-size:90%;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;display:inline-block;font-variant:normal;text-rendering:auto;margin-left:.25em;}.row.no-gutter{margin-right:0;margin-left:0;}.row.no-gutter > [class*="col-"]{padding-right:0;padding-left:0;}.container.mid{position:relative;z-index:1;}body.sponsored .premium-partner-attribution{font-size:75%;font-style:italic;}.column.aside{display:none;}.column.aside.flexible{display:block;}.column.aside div.mid-flex,.column.aside div.bottom-anchor,.column.aside .section.related-links{display:none;}.column.aside .section{border-top:5px solid #656565;margin-bottom:35px;}.column.aside .section h1,.column.aside .section h2{text-transform:uppercase;}.column.aside .section.headlines h1,.column.aside .section.headlines h2{margin:5px 0 20px 5px;font-size:20px;}.aside .section.headlines{margin:0 auto;margin-bottom:75px;}.aside .section.headlines{margin-bottom:25px;}.column.aside .section.headlines > .content{padding:8px 0 0;overflow:hidden;max-height:292px;position:relative;}body.aans.view.sponsored .aside .section.headlines.publisher-headlines.sponsored > .content{max-height:none;}.aside .section.headlines > .content:after{background:linear-gradient(rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100%) repeat scroll 0 0 rgba(0,0,0,0);background-image:linear-gradient( rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100% );background-image:-moz-linear-gradient( rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100% );background-image:-webkit-linear-gradient( rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100% );content:"";display:block;position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;height:30px;pointer-events:none;z-index:1;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories{list-style-type:none;}ul.stories > li .location{color:#333;}ul.stories > li > a{display:block;}.section.headlines.spotlight-box ul.stories > li,.section.box.headlines ul.stories > li{padding:0 0 4px 0;}.section.box.headlines ul.stories > li > a{padding:4px 9px;}ul.stories > li .kind-of-story,ul.stories > li .location,ul.stories > li .summary{color:#333;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories > li,.column.main .section.headlines.two-column ul.stories > li{-moz-box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;margin:0 auto;overflow:hidden;font-size:13px;line-height:150%;}.landing .section h1 a:after,.interior .section h1 a:after,.interior .section h2 a:after{content:"»";font-weight:normal;display:inline-block;margin:-5px 0 0 6px;}.section h2{margin-bottom:4px;}body.aans.view h2.headline,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body p.story-body-text{background-color:#fff;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.01);}body.aans.view.sponsored .column.main .story-body p.story-body-text strong.subhead{font-size:130%;}.column.aside .focus.featured.photo-row{border-top-width:0;font-size:14px;}.container.bottom .focus.trending.photo-row .widget-label,.column.aside .focus.featured.photo-row .widget-label{font-size:175%;text-transform:uppercase;}.column.aside .focus.featured.photo-row .items > .item{margin-top:25px;}.focus.featured.photo-row .items > .item > a > .teaser{width:95%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.column.aside .focus.featured.photo-row .items > .item > a > .teaser{margin-top:12px;}.focus.featured.photo-row .items > .item > a > .teaser > .headline{font-weight:600;}.focus.featured.photo-row .items > .item > a img{margin-bottom:8px;}.focus.featured.photo-row .items > .item > a img.img-responsive.lazy{width:100%;}.section{overflow:hidden;}.credit{font-style:italic;}.credit a,.aside .credit{color:#999;}.section.box.headlines ul.stories li{list-style-type:none;line-height:18px;margin-bottom:7px;}.location{font-weight:bold;}.bottom .notes{margin-top:15px;border-top:4px solid #656565;}.notes .note{color:#666;font-size:11px;line-height:130%;margin-top:12px;}.notes .note:last-child{margin-bottom:12px;}ul.stories{clear:both;overflow:hidden;}body.aans.view .column.main .caption-and-credit{font-size:90%;padding-right:1%;padding-left:1%;}body.aans.view .column.main .caption-and-credit a{color:#333;}body.aans.view .column.main .caption-and-credit .credit{font-style:italic;text-align:right;}body.aans.view .column.main h2.headline,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body p.story-body-text{background-color:#fff;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.01);}body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date{margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:10px;}body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date::after{content:'';display:block;clear:both;}body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication-date{font-size:10px;text-transform:uppercase;float:right;}body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication{float:left;}body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication .publisher-name{font-size:15px;font-weight:600;font-style:italic;}body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication .publisher-logo{background-image:none;background-color:transparent;padding:0;text-indent:0;display:inline;box-sizing:content-box;}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication .publisher-logo{display:block;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:50%;text-indent:-99999px;}}body.aans.view .column.main h2.headline{font-size:150%;margin-bottom:12px;font-weight:700;}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){body.aans.view .column.main h2.headline{font-size:160%;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 768px){body.aans.view .column.main h2.headline{font-size:180%;}}body.aans.view .column.main .kindofstory,body.aans.view .column.main .byline{display:block;font-size:85%;margin-bottom:10px;}body.aans.view .column.main .figure.story-header{margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:25px;}body.aans.view .column.main .figure.story-header.picture img,body.aans.view .column.main .figure.story-header.profile img,body.aans.view .column.main .figure.story-header.photoessay img,body.aans.view .column.main .figure.story-header.video > .video-container{margin:1%;max-width:98%;box-shadow:0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.506);-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.506);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.506);}body.aans.view .column.main .story-body p.story-body-text,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .story-footer-link p{margin-bottom:.75em;line-height:1.5;}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){body.aans.view .column.main .story-body li,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body p.story-body-text,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .story-footer-link p{font-size:15px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 768px){body.aans.view .column.main .story-body li body.aans.view .column.main .story-body p.story-body-text,body.aans.view .column.main .story-body .story-footer-link p{font-size:17px;}}.aans.view .column.main .tags.full-border{border:1px solid #dddddd;margin-top:12px;padding:10px 15px;}.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded{font-size:75%;}.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded .tags-label,.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded ul li{float:left;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:8px;}.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded .tags-label{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:4px;}.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded ul li{display:inline-block;margin-left:15px;}.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded ul li > a{transition:all 0.2s;color:#333333;display:block;font-weight:500;padding:3px 10px;border:1px solid #dddddd;border-radius:2px;}.aans.view .column.main .tags.rounded ul li::before{content:none;}body.aans.view .column.main .story-footer-link .publisher-url,body.aans.view .column.main .story-footer-link .source-url{font-weight:bold;}body.aans.view .column.main .copyright-notice{border-style:solid;border-color:#dddddd;border-width:1px 0;font-size:80%;padding:10px 0;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation{border-style:solid;border-color:#dddddd;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-width:1px;margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:15px;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next{font-weight:600;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next .prev-next-label{margin-top:7px;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next .headline{margin-bottom:7px;color:#333333;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next.prev{text-align:left;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next.prev i.fa{margin-right:5px;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next.next{text-align:right;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next.next i.fa{margin-left:5px;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next.active .prev-next-label{color:#c41313;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next.inactive .prev-next-label{color:#dddddd;}.aans.view .column.main .cross-story-navigation .prev-next a{display:block;}label{display:block;font-weight:bold;line-height:21px;}body > .container.footer{background:#2c2c2c url(https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/bg-footer.png) 0 0 repeat-x;border-bottom-right-radius:6px;border-bottom-left-radius:6px;color:#ddd;overflow:hidden;}body > .container.footer a{color:#ddd;}body > .container.footer .legal{text-align:center;}body > .container.footer .colophon,body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links{margin-top:15px;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links{max-width:220px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}body > .container.footer .colophon p{padding:0;margin-bottom:7px;}body > .container.footer .legal{margin-top:15px;}body > .container.footer .legal > ul,body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .site-links{list-style-type:none;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .connect,body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .site-links li{margin-top:12px;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .site-links li:first-child{margin-top:0;}body > .container.footer .trademark{text-align:center;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:50px;}body > .container.footer ul.site-links > li > a{background-color:#444;display:block;-webkit-border-radius:6px;-moz-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;font-weight:bold;padding:5px 9px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:80%;line-height:1;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .donate{background-color:#a40a0a;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .newsletter-signup-trigger{cursor:pointer;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links ul.site-links > li > a > i.fa{display:none;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download{display:none;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .connect{color:#ddd;text-decoration:none;}:lang(en) body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .connect{font-size:20px;}:lang(fr) body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .connect{font-size:22px;}.container.bottom .spotlight-grid{margin-top:17px;}.story-navigation-arrow{display:none;}@media only screen and (min-width: 235px){.story-navigation-arrow{display:block !important;overflow:hidden;background-color:#fcfcfc;opacity:.7;transition:all 1s ease-in-out .7s;border-color:#ccc;border-style:solid;cursor:pointer;height:60px;position:fixed;top:50%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);width:190px;}.story-navigation-arrow.next{border-radius:5px 0 0 5px;border-width:1px 0 1px 1px;right:-162px;}.story-navigation-arrow .arrow{position:absolute;top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%);}.story-navigation-arrow .arrow .icon{width:15px;height:15px;text-indent:-9999px;background-position:center center;background-size:cover;background-color:transparent;}.story-navigation-arrow.next .arrow{left:5px;}.story-navigation-arrow.next .arrow .icon{background-image:url(https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/arrowhead-right.png);}.story-navigation-arrow .item{transition:opacity 1s ease-in-out 1s;opacity:1;line-height:125%;color:#333;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;height:100%;position:relative;}.story-navigation-arrow .item > .content{position:absolute;top:50%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);}.story-navigation-arrow.next .item > .content{left:28px;padding-right:8px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){.story-navigation-arrow{height:80px;width:245px;}.story-navigation-arrow.next{right:-210px;}.story-navigation-arrow .arrow .icon{width:20px;height:20px;}.story-navigation-arrow.next .arrow{left:8px;}.story-navigation-arrow.next .item > .content{left:35px;padding-right:10px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 320px){body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download{display:block;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div > a{display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div > a > img{width:100%;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.google-play-download > a{float:right;width:163px;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.app-store-download > a{float:left;width:calc( ( 43px / 40 * 140 ) + 1px );padding:10px;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 360px){body > .container.footer .legal > ul > li{display:inline-block;}body > .container.footer .legal > ul > li:before{content:"// ";margin-left:.5em;margin-right:.5em;}body > .container.footer .legal > ul > li:first-child:before{content:"";display:none;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .site-links{text-align:left;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links ul.site-links > li > a > i.fa{display:inline-block;margin-right:4px;width:1em;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.google-play-download > a,body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.app-store-download > a{float:none;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.app-store-download > a{width:163px;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div > a{margin:0 auto;}.column.aside .section.headlines h2{margin:5px 0 20px 0;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories > li,.column.main .section.headlines.two-column ul.stories > li{width:50%;float:left;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories > li:nth-child(even),.column.main .section.headlines.two-column ul.stories > li:nth-child(even){float:right;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories > li:nth-child(odd),.column.main .section.headlines.two-column ul.stories > li:nth-child(odd){clear:both;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 768px){body > .container.footer .colophon p{padding-left:51px;background:url(https://cdn06.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/aa-logo-gray.png) 0 0 no-repeat;}body > .container.footer .colophon p,body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links .site-links{padding-top:16px;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.google-play-download > a{float:right;}body > .container.footer .rss-and-site-links div.app-download > div.app-store-download > a{float:left;width:calc( ( 43px / 40 * 140 ) + 1px );}.ad-container.gpt-ad.pixel-a,.ad-container.gpt-ad.pixel-b{display:block;}.logo a,.utility .search{margin-bottom:0;}.column.aside{display:block;}.column.aside.flexible{position:absolute;right:0;top:0;bottom:0;}.column.aside div.mid-flex,.column.aside div.bottom-anchor,.column.aside .section.related-links{display:block;}.column.aside div.top-anchor > div,.column.aside div.bottom-anchor > div{overflow:hidden;}body.aans.view .column.main,body.aans.view .column.aside.flexible{min-height:1655px;}.column.aside .section.headlines h1,.column.aside .section.headlines h2{margin:0 0 14px 0;font-size:16px;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories li{width:100%;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories li,.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories li:nth-child(even){float:none;}.column.aside .section.headlines ul.stories li:nth-child(odd){clear:none;}.column.aside.flexible .mid-flex{content:"";box-sizing:border-box;}.column.aside.flexible .top-anchor{overflow:hidden;}.column.aside.flexible .bottom-anchor{background-color:#fff;bottom:0;position:absolute;left:15px;right:15px;}.column.aside.flexible .bottom-anchor:before{background:linear-gradient(rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100%) repeat scroll 0 0 rgba(0,0,0,0);background-image:linear-gradient( rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100% );background-image:-moz-linear-gradient( rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100% );background-image:-webkit-linear-gradient( rgba(255,255,255,0) 0,#fff 75%,#fff 100% );content:"";display:block;position:absolute;left:0;right:0;top:-50px;height:50px;pointer-events:none;z-index:1;}} </style> <style> .container.content-area-top { background-color: #fff; } </style> <script> const ___reqID="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx".replace(/[xy]/g,function(c){var r=16*Math.random()|0,v;return("x"==c?r:3&r|8).toString(16)}); var JDEV={logging:{logToServer:function(){var logEventObject=Object.assign({_class:"info",_tag:"none",_location:location.href,_browser:navigator.userAgent,___reqID:___reqID,__time:(new Date()).toISOString()},arguments[0]);var arr=["_class","_tag"];for(var i=0;i<arr.length;i++){var key=arr[i];logEventObject[key]="["+logEventObject[key].toUpperCase()+"]"}var keys=Object.keys(logEventObject);keys.sort();var postData=keys.map(function(key){return encodeURIComponent(key)+"="+encodeURIComponent(logEventObject[key])}).join("&");try{var xhr=new XMLHttpRequest;xhr.open("POST","/functions/jdev-logger.json",true);xhr.setRequestHeader("X-Requested-With","XMLHttpRequest");xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type","application/x-www-form-urlencoded");xhr.send(postData)}catch(e){console.log(e)}}}};; window.onerror = function (message, source, line, col, error) { try{ JDEV.logging.logToServer( { _tag: 'window.onerror', message: message, source: source, line: line, col: col, error: error } ); console.error( error ); } catch (e) {} return true; } </script> <script> window._ready = window._ready || { 'push': function (el) { (_ready.q = _ready.q || []).push(el); } }; var __aaVerbose = new RegExp("(^|\\s)is-dev(\\s|$)").test( document.getElementsByTagName("html")[0].getAttribute("class") ); function logError(e){JDEV.logging.logToServer({_tag:"logError",message:e.message,stack:e.stack});if(__aaVerbose&&window["console"]&&console.error)console.error(e)} function ready(fn){function eventCallback(){try{fn()}catch(error){try{JDEV.logging.logToServer({_tag:"ready",error:error});console.error(error)}catch(e){}}}if("interactive"===document.readyState||"complete"===document.readyState)window.setTimeout(eventCallback);else if(document.addEventListener)document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",eventCallback,false);else if(document.attachEvent)document.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){if("interactive"===document.readyState)eventCallback()});else try{JDEV.logging.logToServer({_tag:"ready",message:"unhandled ready condition"});console.error(error)}catch(e){}} var eventToolsQueue = []; </script> <script> var doLoadAds = true; var doLoadTracking = true; var doLoadSocial = true; var requestNonPersonalizedAds = true; </script> <script> !function(){"use strict";var t;(function(t){t.t=function(){for(var t,e,n="__tcfapiLocator",r=[],i=window;i;){try{if(i.frames[n]){t=i;break}}catch(t){}if(i===window.top)break;i=i.parent}t||(function t(){var e=i.document,r=!!i.frames[n];if(!r)if(e.body){var a=e.createElement("iframe");a.style.cssText="display:none",a.name=n,e.body.appendChild(a)}else setTimeout(t,5);return!r}(),i.__tcfapi=function(){for(var t=arguments.length,n=new Array(t),i=0;i<t;i++)n[i]=arguments[i];if(!n.length)return r;if("setGdprApplies"===n[0])n.length>3&&2===parseInt(n[1],10)&&"boolean"==typeof n[3]&&(e=n[3],"function"==typeof n[2]&&n[2]("set",!0));else if("ping"===n[0]){var a={gdprApplies:e,cmpLoaded:!1,cmpStatus:"stub"};"function"==typeof n[2]&&n[2](a)}else r.push(n)},i.addEventListener("message",(function(t){var e="string"==typeof t.data,n={};try{n=e?JSON.parse(t.data):t.data}catch(t){}var r=n.i;r&&window.__tcfapi(r.command,r.version,(function(n,i){var a={o:{returnValue:n,s:i,u:r.u}};e&&(a=JSON.stringify(a)),t&&t.source&&t.source.postMessage&&t.source.postMessage(a,"*")}),r.p)}),!1))}}(t={t:{}}),t.t)()}(); </script> <script> var clickioConsentCallback = { fired: false, consentState: 'UNSET', }; (window.__lxG__consent__= window.__lxG__consent__||{}).consentCallback = function(consentState) { // EEA user, consent interface shown, cmp loaded, user has not decided yet if ( consentState === -1 ) return; if ( clickioConsentCallback.fired ) return; clickioConsentCallback.fired = true; clickioConsentCallback.consentState = consentState; }; </script> <script async src="//clickiocmp.com/t/consent_215885.js"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-5P8RKMB865', {"categories":["agricultur","governance","health","legalaffai","southafric","southernaf"],"gurl_command":"view","gurl_doc_id":"202412020426","gurl_doctype":"aans","gurl_publisher_key":"AllAfrica_Publisher|editorial|00010437","is_grouped":"F","is_sponsored":"F","item_age":90,"site_language":"en"}); </script> <script> // initialize FB settings var FBIsLoaded = false; window.__FBAppId = '100369188719'; </script> <script> // initialize GPT objects window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; // initialize in-house objects window.slots = {}; window.mappings = {}; </script> <script> loadjs=function(){var h=function(){},c={},u={},f={};function o(e,n){if(e){var r=f[e];if(u[e]=n,r)for(;r.length;)r[0](e,n),r.splice(0,1)}}function l(e,n){e.call&&(e={success:e}),n.length?(e.error||h)(n):(e.success||h)(e)}function d(r,t,s,i){var c,o,e=document,n=s.async,u=(s.numRetries||0)+1,f=s.before||h,l=r.replace(/[\?|#].*$/,""),a=r.replace(/^(css|img)!/,"");i=i||0,/(^css!|\.css$)/.test(l)?((o=e.createElement("link")).rel="stylesheet",o.href=a,(c="hideFocus"in o)&&o.relList&&(c=0,o.rel="preload",o.as="style")):/(^img!|\.(png|gif|jpg|svg)$)/.test(l)?(o=e.createElement("img")).src=a:((o=e.createElement("script")).src=r,o.async=void 0===n||n),!(o.onload=o.onerror=o.onbeforeload=function(e){var n=e.type[0];if(c)try{o.sheet.cssText.length||(n="e")}catch(e){18!=e.code&&(n="e")}if("e"==n){if((i+=1)<u)return d(r,t,s,i)}else if("preload"==o.rel&&"style"==o.as)return o.rel="stylesheet";t(r,n,e.defaultPrevented)})!==f(r,o)&&e.head.appendChild(o)}function r(e,n,r){var t,s;if(n&&n.trim&&(t=n),s=(t?r:n)||{},t){if(t in c)throw"LoadJS";c[t]=!0}function i(n,r){!function(e,t,n){var r,s,i=(e=e.push?e:[e]).length,c=i,o=[];for(r=function(e,n,r){if("e"==n&&o.push(e),"b"==n){if(!r)return;o.push(e)}--i||t(o)},s=0;s<c;s++)d(e[s],r,n)}(e,function(e){l(s,e),n&&l({success:n,error:r},e),o(t,e)},s)}if(s.returnPromise)return new Promise(i);i()}return r.ready=function(e,n){return function(e,r){e=e.push?e:[e];var n,t,s,i=[],c=e.length,o=c;for(n=function(e,n){n.length&&i.push(e),--o||r(i)};c--;)t=e[c],(s=u[t])?n(t,s):(f[t]=f[t]||[]).push(n)}(e,function(e){l(n,e)}),r},r.done=function(e){o(e,[])},r.reset=function(){c={},u={},f={}},r.isDefined=function(e){return e in c},r}(); </script> <script> function _wb(queryForm){function qps(params){if(0===Object.keys(params).length)return"";params._u=window.location.href;params._r=window.frames.top.document.referrer;params._n=new Number(Math.floor(9999999999*Math.random())+1);var keys=Object.keys(params);keys.sort();return"?"+keys.map(function(key){return encodeURIComponent(key)+"="+encodeURIComponent(params[key])}).join("&")}"object"==typeof queryForm&&Object.keys(queryForm).length>0&&(new Image(1,1).src="https://allafrica.com/_wb"+qps(queryForm))} </script> <script> "use strict"; function loadJSSuccessCallback (bundle) { if ( typeof( loadJSSuccessCallbacks[bundle] ) !== 'function' ) return; loadJSSuccessCallbacks[bundle](); } function fireLoadJSBundle (bundle) { if ( typeof( loadJSBundles[bundle] ) !== 'function' ) return; loadJSBundles[bundle](); } var loadJSSuccessCallbacks = { social: function () { let nodeList = document.querySelectorAll('.sticky-panel-container > .sticky-panel'); for (let i = 0; i < nodeList.length; i++) { let node = nodeList[i]; if ( ! isHidden( node ) ) continue; node.style.display = ''; } }, 'cmp': function () { if ( clickioConsentCallback.fired && clickioConsentCallback.consentState !== 'UNSET' ) { return triggerConsentAction({ consentState: clickioConsentCallback.consentState, }); } // end if fired (window.__lxG__consent__= window.__lxG__consent__||{}).consentCallback = function( consentState ) { // EEA user, consent interface shown, cmp loaded, user has not decided yet if ( consentState === -1 ) return; clickioConsentCallback.fired = true; clickioConsentCallback.consentState = consentState; return triggerConsentAction({ consentState: consentState, }); }; // close consentCallback }, 'analytics': function () { fireLoadJSBundle('events'); }, 'events': function () { try{initEventTools();}catch(e){logError(e);} }, 'lazyload': function () { const images = document.querySelectorAll('img.lazy'); lazyload(images,{rootMargin:"200px 0px"}); }, 'header': function(){ fireLoadJSBundle('cmp'); }, }; var loadJSBundles = { 'analytics': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'analytics' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js","https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-5P8RKMB865"], 'analytics', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'analytics' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'clickio': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'clickio' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://s.clickiocdn.com/t/215885/360_light.js"], 'clickio', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'clickio' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'cmp': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'cmp' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/js/header-cmp-functions.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/js/header-ad-functions.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'cmp', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'cmp' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'events': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'events' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/event-tools.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'events', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'events' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'gpt': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'gpt' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"], 'gpt', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'gpt' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'header': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'header' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/js/header.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'header', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'header' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'lazyload': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'lazyload' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn06.allafrica.com/static/js/lazyload/2.0.0/lazyload.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'lazyload', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'lazyload' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'queue': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'queue' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/js/queue.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'queue', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'queue' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'social': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'social' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/facebook.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn08.allafrica.com/static/js/twitter.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'social', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'social' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, 'trackers': function () { if ( loadjs.isDefined( 'trackers' ) ) return false; loadjs( ["https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/js/quantcast.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/js/comscore.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/js/cxense.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'trackers', { success: function() { loadJSSuccessCallback( 'trackers' ); }, numRetries: 3, }); }, }; </script> <title>South Africa: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy - allAfrica.com</title> <link rel="icon" href="https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/favicon.ico"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://cdn04.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://allafrica.com/stories/202412020426.html"> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"image":["https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1200.jpg"],"headline":"South Africa: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy","@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle"} </script> <link media="print" type="text/css" href="https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/css/bootstrap/3.3.7/bootstrap-xxs-tn.min.css?v=2025011000" rel="stylesheet" onload="this.media='all'; this.onload=null;"> <link media="print" type="text/css" href="https://cdn02.allafrica.com/static/css/bootstrap/3.3.7/bootstrap.min.css?v=2025011000" rel="stylesheet" onload="this.media='all'; this.onload=null;"> <link media="print" type="text/css" href="https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/css/font-awesome/4.7.0/font-awesome.min.css?v=2025011000" rel="stylesheet" onload="this.media='all'; this.onload=null;"> <link media="print" type="text/css" href="https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/css/screen.min.css?v=2025011000" rel="stylesheet" onload="this.media='all'; this.onload=null;"> <link media="print" type="text/css" href="https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/css/print.min.css?v=2025011000" rel="stylesheet" onload="this.media='print'; this.onload=null;"> <script></script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { mappings['InreadA'] = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([510,0], [[480,320],[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([370,0], [[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([350,0], [[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([0,0], [[300,600],[300,250]]).build(); mappings['RightA'] = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768,0], [[336,280],[320,480],[300,1050],[300,600],[300,250],[160,600],[120,600]]).addSize([370,0], [[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([350,0], [[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([0,0], [[300,600],[300,250]]).build(); mappings['RightB'] = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768,0], [[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250],[160,600],[120,600]]).addSize([370,0], [[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([350,0], [[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]).addSize([0,0], [[300,600],[300,250]]).build(); slots['InreadA'] = googletag.defineSlot("/1001373/AllAfrica_InreadA", [[480,320],[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]], "div-gpt-async-ad-inread-a").defineSizeMapping(mappings['InreadA']).addService(googletag.pubads()); slots['RightA'] = googletag.defineSlot("/1001373/AllAfrica_RightA", [[336,280],[320,480],[300,1050],[300,600],[300,250],[160,600],[120,600]], "div-gpt-async-ad-right-a").defineSizeMapping(mappings['RightA']).addService(googletag.pubads()); slots['RightB'] = googletag.defineSlot("/1001373/AllAfrica_RightB", [[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250],[160,600],[120,600]], "div-gpt-async-ad-right-b").defineSizeMapping(mappings['RightB']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Categories",["Food and Agriculture","Governance","Health and Medicine","Legal and Judicial Affairs","South Africa","Southern Africa"]).setTargeting("Command",["view"]).setTargeting("Doctype",["aans"]).setTargeting("Id",["202412020426"]).setTargeting("Index",["post"]).setTargeting("IsGrouped",["F"]).setTargeting("IsPopular",["F"]).setTargeting("IsSponsored",["F"]).setTargeting("Language",["english"]).setTargeting("NativeEnabled",["F"]).setTargeting("PageType",["Articles"]).setTargeting("PublisherKey",["AllAfrica_Publisher|editorial|00010437"]).setTargeting("Store",["post"]); // with disableInitialLoad(), in order to render ads we must call display(), in fetchDFPAds() and refresh(), in fireDFP() googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); googletag.pubads().setCentering(true); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script> var _qevents = _qevents || []; _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-e1eaCwfv4zVTI"} ); </script>  <script> var _comscore = _comscore || []; _comscore.push({ c1: "2", c2: "13865518" }); </script>   <script> var cX = cX || {}; cX.callQueue = cX.callQueue || []; cX.callQueue.push(['setSiteId', '9222314110563703887']); cX.callQueue.push(['sendPageViewEvent']); </script>  </head> <body class="interior story aans view"> <nav id="nav-sidebar" aria-expanded="false" class="uninitialized" data-source="https://allafrica.com/includes/html/nav/sidebar-nav.html" ></nav> <style> @media screen{#nav-sidebar{width:250px;position:fixed;top:0;left:-260px;bottom:1vh;z-index:1031;transition:all 0.3s;overflow-y:auto;box-shadow:3px 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);}#nav-sidebar.active{left:0;}#nav-sidebar .nav-sidebar-content{background:#fff;color:#333;position:relative;padding:7px 22px 7px;min-height:100%;}#nav-sidebar .language-switch{padding-left:12px;}#nav-sidebar i.dismiss{display:block;width:35px;height:35px;color:#777;line-height:35px;text-align:center;float:right;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s;-o-transition:all 0.3s;transition:all 0.3s;}#nav-sidebar i.dismiss:active,#nav-sidebar i.dismiss:focus,#nav-sidebar i.dismiss:hover{background:#efefef;color:#333;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu{margin-top:7px;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu,#nav-sidebar ul.submenu{list-style-type:none;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu > li.divider,#nav-sidebar ul.submenu > li.divider{height:1px;margin:9px 0;overflow:hidden;background-color:#e5e5e5;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu > li > a,#nav-sidebar ul.submenu > li > a{padding:10px;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu > li > a{padding-left:15px;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu > li > ul.submenu > li > a{padding-left:25px;}#nav-sidebar ul.menu > li > ul.submenu > li > ul.submenu > li > a{padding-left:35px;}#nav-sidebar a{color:#777;}#nav-sidebar a,#nav-sidebar a:hover,#nav-sidebar a:focus{color:inherit;text-decoration:none;transition:all 0.3s;display:block;}#nav-sidebar a:active,#nav-sidebar a:focus,#nav-sidebar a:hover{color:#333;background-color:#efefef;font-weight:500;}#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger{position:relative;color:#333;background-color:#efefef;}#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger.collapsed{color:#777;background-color:#fff;}#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger.collapsed:active,#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger.collapsed:focus,#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger.collapsed:hover{color:#333;background-color:#efefef;}#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger::after{display:block;position:absolute;right:20px;top:50%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;content:'\f0d7';font-family:FontAwesome;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-variant:normal;text-rendering:auto;}#nav-sidebar a.submenu-trigger.collapsed::after{content:'\f0da';}#nav-sidebar form.search{margin-bottom:12px;}} </style> <div id="sticky-masthead-scroll-tracker"></div> <div id="sticky-masthead" class="sticky-masthead fixed-top"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <nav class="nav-corner-logo"> <div class="logo"> <div class="ar-outer"> <div class="ar-inner"> <a href="/">AllAfrica</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="top-right-button-container"> <div class="btn-group-vertical"> <a class="navbar-link btn btn-sm btn-default navbar-btn active" href="/">English <span class="sr-only">(current)</span></a> <a class="navbar-link btn btn-sm btn-default navbar-btn" href="https://fr.allafrica.com/">En Français</a> </div> <ul> <li> <a class="navbar-link nav-sidebar-toggle" href="/misc/sitemap/categories.html" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="navbar-link btn btn-sm btn-default navbar-btn my-account" href="/commerce/user/manage/"> <span class="sr-only">My Account</span> <i class="fa fa-user-o"></i> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <nav class="nav-center-logo"> <div class="top-left-button-container"> <a class="navbar-link nav-sidebar-toggle" href="/misc/sitemap/categories.html" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </a> </div> <div class="logo"> <div class="ar-outer"> <div class="ar-inner"> <a href="/">AllAfrica</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="top-right-button-container"> <a class="navbar-link btn btn-sm btn-default navbar-btn my-account" href="/commerce/user/manage/"> <span class="sr-only">My Account</span> <i class="fa fa-user-o"></i> </a> <div class="btn-group language-switching"> <a class="navbar-link btn btn-sm btn-default navbar-btn active" href="/">English <span class="sr-only">(current)</span></a> <a class="navbar-link btn btn-sm btn-default navbar-btn" href="https://fr.allafrica.com/">En Français</a> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'sticky-masthead' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/js/sticky-masthead.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'sticky-masthead', { async: true, }); } </script> <style> body{padding-top:50px;}.sticky-masthead{background-color:#f4f4f4;position:relative;right:0;left:0;box-shadow:0 0 5px 1px #888;}.sticky-masthead.fixed-top{position:fixed;top:0;z-index:100;}.sticky-masthead .top-left-button-container{float:left;}.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container{float:right;}#sticky-masthead-scroll-tracker{position:absolute;top:6px;height:1px;width:1px;}.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container > ul,.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container > .btn-group,.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container > .btn-group-vertical,.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container > .navbar-btn{float:right;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo{display:none;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .top-right-button-container{margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:8px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .top-right-button-container .navbar-btn{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .top-right-button-container .nav-sidebar-toggle{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:3px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .top-right-button-container > ul{list-style-type:none;float:right;display:inline-block;position:relative;margin-left:3px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .top-right-button-container > ul > li{line-height:0;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .top-right-button-container .navbar-btn.my-account{margin-left:3px;}.sticky-masthead .nav-sidebar-toggle{display:inline-block;margin-right:3px;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;}.sticky-masthead .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar{display:block;background-color:#333;width:20px;height:3px;border-radius:1px;}.sticky-masthead .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar+.icon-bar{margin-top:3px;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-link{color:#777;}.sticky-masthead .btn:hover .navbar-link,.sticky-masthead .btn:active .navbar-link,.sticky-masthead .btn:focus .navbar-link{color:#333;font-weight:500;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-btn{font-size:10px;padding:1px 5px;line-height:1.5;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-btn i.fa{line-height:inherit;display:block;}.sticky-masthead .logo{}.sticky-masthead .logo .ar-outer .ar-inner{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;}.sticky-masthead .logo .ar-outer .ar-inner a{background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:contain;text-indent:-9999px;width:100%;height:100%;display:block;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .logo,.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{float:left;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .logo{width:38px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:22px;margin-left:3%;}.operamini .sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:20px;margin-left:2px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .logo .ar-outer,.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo .ar-outer{width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:100%;position:relative;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo .logo .ar-outer .ar-inner a,.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo .ar-outer .ar-inner a{background-image:url(https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/aa-logo-rgba-no-text-128x128.png);}.sticky-masthead .logo{margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:8px;}@media only screen and (min-width: 235px){body{padding-top:35px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-corner-logo{display:none;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo{display:block;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 280px){.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:25%;float:left;margin-left:5%;margin-right:0;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo .ar-outer{padding-bottom:37.61468%;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo .ar-outer .ar-inner a{background-image:url(https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/aa-logo.png);}}@media only screen and (min-width: 320px){.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{margin-left:10%;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 380px){body{padding-top:45px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{margin-left:15%;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 480px){body{padding-top:55px;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-btn{font-size:11px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{margin-left:25%;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 560px){body{padding-top:60px;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-btn{font-size:12px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{margin-left:30%;}}@media only screen and (min-width: 768px){body{padding-top:95px;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-btn,.sticky-masthead .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar,.sticky-masthead .logo,.sticky-masthead .logo .ar-outer .ar-inner a{-webkit-transition:all .3s ease;-o-transition:all .3s ease;transition:all .3s ease;}.sticky-masthead .top-left-button-container,.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container{position:absolute;top:0;}.sticky-masthead .top-left-button-container{left:15px;}.sticky-masthead .top-right-button-container{right:15px;}.sticky-masthead .navbar-btn{padding:5px 10px;font-size:12px;}.sticky-masthead.small .navbar-btn{padding:1px 5px;}.sticky-masthead.medium .navbar-btn{padding:3px 7px;}.sticky-masthead.large .navbar-btn{padding:5px 10px;}.sticky-masthead .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar{width:24px;height:4px;border-radius:2px;}.sticky-masthead .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar+.icon-bar{margin-top:5px;}.sticky-masthead.small .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar{width:20px;height:3px;border-radius:1px;}.sticky-masthead.small .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar+.icon-bar{margin-top:3px;}.sticky-masthead.medium .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar{width:22px;height:4px;border-radius:2px;}.sticky-masthead.medium .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar+.icon-bar{margin-top:4px;}.sticky-masthead.large .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar{width:24px;height:4px;border-radius:2px;}.sticky-masthead.large .nav-sidebar-toggle .icon-bar+.icon-bar{margin-top:5px;}.sticky-masthead nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:218px;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.sticky-masthead.small nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:130px;}.sticky-masthead.medium nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:175px;}.sticky-masthead.large nav.nav-center-logo .logo{width:218px;}} </style> <div class="container subnav"> </div> <div class="container mid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12 col-sm-8 column main"> <script> ready( function () { _wb({"azr":0,"_t":"access","uan":0,"uaz":0,"_l":"en"}); } ); </script> <h2 class="headline">South Africa: Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy</h2>  <div class="sharebar solid top a2a_kit a2a_default_style uninitialized" data-a2a-title='Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy' data-a2a-url='https://allafrica.com/stories/202412020426.html'> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a> <a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a> <a class="a2a_button_whatsapp"></a> <a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a> <a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a> <a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a> <a class="a2a_button_email"></a> <a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a> </div>  <style> @media print{body.aans.view .column.main .sharebar.solid{display:none !important;}}.sharebar.solid{margin:8px 15px;min-height:calc( 24px + ( 2 * 4px ) );}.sharebar.solid a{margin:4px 0;}@media screen and ( min-width: 768px ){.sharebar.solid{margin:12px 15px;min-height:calc( 32px + ( 2 * 7px ) );}.sharebar.solid a{margin:7px 0;}} </style> <div class="figure picture story-header"> <img class="img-responsive" srcset="https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1248:us1.jpg 1248w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1323:us1.jpg 1323w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1448:us1.jpg 1448w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1470:us1.jpg 1470w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w1872:us1.jpg 1872w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w2172:us1.jpg 2172w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w2205:us1.jpg 2205w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w285:us1.jpg 285w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w441:us1.jpg 441w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w570:us1.jpg 570w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w624:us1.jpg 624w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w724:us1.jpg 724w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w735:us1.jpg 735w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w855:us1.jpg 855w, https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w882:us1.jpg 882w" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) calc( ( ( 1170px * 2 / 3 ) - 30px ) * .98 ), (min-width: 768px) calc( ( ( 1000px * 2 / 3 ) - 30px ) * .98 ), (min-width: 0) calc( ( 100vw - 30px ) * .98 )" src="https://cdn04.allafrica.com/download/pic/main/main/csiid/00660736:96887fa59fd05ebea1a7bd64b4260444:arc614x376:w735:us1.jpg" alt="" width="1248" height="764" /> <div class="caption-and-credit clearfix"> <div class="credit"><a href="https://groundup.org.za/article/somali-refugees-fear-their-lives-after-tshwane-riots/" class="external">Ihsaan Haffejee/GroundUp</a></div> <div class="figcaption">Somali shopkeepers outside their spaza shop in Pretoria West (file photo).</div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <div class="publisher-and-date"> <div class="publication-date"> 2 December 2024</div> <div class="publication"> <a href="https://allafrica.com/" target="_blank" title="Visit allAfrica.com" data-img-src="https://cdn02.allafrica.com/static/images/publishers/minibanners/allafrica180.png"> <div class="publisher-name publisher-id-00010437" data-img-src="https://cdn02.allafrica.com/static/images/publishers/minibanners/allafrica180.png"> allAfrica.com </div> </a> </div> </div> <style> @media print, screen and (min-width: 480px) { body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication .publisher-logo.publisher-id-00010437 { background-image: url('https://cdn02.allafrica.com/static/images/publishers/minibanners/allafrica180.png'); } } </style> <script> ready(function(){ "use strict"; // technically we only expect one node, but attachClickTracking() requires a nodeList const nodeList = document.querySelectorAll('body.aans.view .column.main .publisher-and-date .publication'); const found = nodeList.length; if (document.querySelector('html.is-dev') && found!==1) { console.error(`invalid number of elements found for publisher name/logo: ${found}`); } nodeList.forEach(node => { const container = node.querySelector('.publisher-name'); if (document.querySelector('html.is-dev') && !container) { console.error('no publisher name/logo container found'); } const imgSrc = container.dataset.imgSrc; let selectors = { 'a': 'Name' }; // load publisher mininbanner, if available if ( imgSrc ) { const bgImg = new Image; bgImg.onload = function(){ container.style.width = bgImg.width+'px'; container.style.height = bgImg.height+'px'; container.classList.add('publisher-logo'); // check whether or not we have a background image, which will // be dependent on our CSS media query const style = getComputedStyle(container); if (style.backgroundImage!=="none") selectors = { 'a': 'Logo' }; // cannot be easily consolidated with the below because this is // triggered within a callback eventToolsQueue.push(function(){ attachClickTracking( 'AANS View Publisher Header', nodeList, selectors ); }); }; bgImg.src=imgSrc; } else { eventToolsQueue.push(function(){ attachClickTracking( 'AANS View Publisher Header', nodeList, selectors ); }); } }); }); </script> <cite class="byline">By Melody Chironda</cite> <div class="story-body"> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="63">Spaza shops have been a key topic in South Africa's online xenophobic dialogue for years because many of these convenience stores are owned by Africans from other parts of the continent. The call for the closure of these spaza shops continues to gain traction online, with anonymous accounts and self-appointed "news" channels sharing anti-immigrant narratives, reports the <a href="https://cabc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Xenophobia-report-10-Special-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change </a> (CABC).</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="28">There have been several cases of children admitted to hospital and dying after reported food poisoning. These devastating events were allegedly caused by <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/202412020383.html" target="_blank">food bought </a>from spaza shops.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="103">This prompted the CABC to publish <a href="https://allafrica.com/view/resource/main/main/id/00131814.html" target="_blank">Xenophobia, Spaza Shops and Allegations of Food Poisoning</a> examining the online conversation about spaza shops over three distinct periods of this year to assess the interrelationship between anti-immigrant messaging and the topic of spaza shops. The report took into account the periods between January and September 2024 - before the Sowetan children were admitted to hospital and some of them died; between October and November 2024 - a period of intense media reporting surrounding the events, during which President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the public; and between November 16 and 22, 2024, when Ramaphosa ordered measures to be implemented.</p> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <div id="inread-a-container" class="outer-ad-container gpt-outer-ad-container gpt-inread-outer-ad-container inread-a-container">  <div id="div-gpt-async-ad-inread-a" data-dfp-ad-unit="InreadA" data-dfp-network="1001373" data-dfp-sizes="[[480,320],[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250]]" class="ad-container gpt-ad inread-ad gpt-inread-ad inread-a activated fetched"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display('div-gpt-async-ad-inread-a');}); </script> </div>  </div> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="113">According to CABC, researchers first examined the period between January 1 and September 30, during which local spaza store owners were allegedly attacked by a "Somali syndicate" to gain control of the township economy. This followed <a href="https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/foreign-owned-spaza-shops-overwhelm-township-economy-threatening-local-businesses-20240623" target="_blank">Thulani Khumalo</a>'s report that he was under attack to shut down his spaza shop in Vosloorus. According to accounts that reshared this information, Khumalo was allegedly "killed". The only other posts where information about his death was found outside of X (formerly Twitter), was on TikTok and Instagram. However, there was no mention of this in other news outlets and the man (Khumalo) in the circulating posts appears to be alive, based on a review of Facebook.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="71">Between 30 September and 15 November 2024 (second period), the most prominent topic was the death of six children who had died as a result of <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/202411140326.html" target="_blank">organophosphate</a>, as later announced by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. According to the report, accounts on X that are frequently associated with anti-immigrant sentiment seem to have exploited the information to support claims about poisonous or fake food being sold at spaza shops throughout the year.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="64">In addition, the report examined the politicization of concerns about spaza shops owned by so-called foreigners, specifically pointing to a new campaign from the ActionSA party with the hashtag <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/202411200348.html" target="_blank">#Spaza4Locals</a>. ActionSA's Athol Trollip posted about the party calling for a state of emergency to be declared by the ANC to intensify raids on counterfeit, contaminated, and expired goods factories, spaza shops, and distribution networks.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="85">In a national broadcast on Friday, November 15, 2024, Ramaphosa informed the public that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases established that the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, were directly related to a highly hazardous organophosphate chemical, Terbufos, which is registered in South Africa for agricultural use. Three out of 84 spaza shops in Naledi tested positive for Terbufos. Further investigation revealed that many shops were storing perishable and non-perishable food items next to pesticides and other harmful chemicals, posing a health risk.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="47">Then president announced that the spaza shops implicated in the deaths of the children would be closed immediately. It was also announced that all <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/202411290065.html" target="_blank">spaza shops</a> and other food-handling establishments would have <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/202411210469.html" target="_blank">21 days to register</a> their businesses within their municipalities after the day of the address.</p> <div id="in-article-p-mid"></div> <div id="aans-body-mid"></div> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="55">However, online anger from November 16 to 22, 2024, was directed towards South Africans and officials accused of registering spaza shops on behalf of immigrants, reports CABC. The most widely shared post was published on November 21, in which a man is seen intimidating a South African woman as he accuses her of assisting immigrants.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="5"><strong>The Rise of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment</strong></p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="17">Online xenophobic conversations centered on spaza shops predominantly run by people from Somalia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="71">According to CABC, accounts using anti-immigrant messaging in spaza shop conversations relied on several strategies to gain popularity. This includes framing content as "breaking news" and formulating opposing narratives before official confirmation, which creates a false sense of urgency.  Some accounts quickly gained control of the narrative after the news of the deaths of six children in Soweto broke, by sharing unsubstantiated information about the children's deaths before investigations were completed.</p> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <div class="newsletter-signup inread collapse w-background w-background-color blue" aria-expanded="false" data-campaign="Newsletter Signup InRead English v1" > <div class="inread-container"> <div class="row header"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <button type="button" class="close tracked" data-target=".newsletter-signup.inread.collapse.w-background.w-background-color.blue" data-toggle="collapse" data-event-label="Clicked X" aria-label="Close" > <i class="fa fa-times" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span class="sr-only">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="row body"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <img class="logo img-responsive" src="https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/aa-logo-rgba-no-text-128x128.png" /> <div class="cta"> <h4 class="cta-title">Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters</h4> <p class="cta-text">Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row newsletter-signup-form-container"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <form role="form" method="post" action="#" class="newsletter-signup-form"> <div class="mailings-selector"> <div class="mailings"> <input type="hidden" name="mailings[type]" value="user-selected"> <label class="checkbox-inline"><input type="checkbox" class="tracked" data-event-label="Clicked Checkbox" checked name="mailings[values][]" value="latest:en">Top Headlines</label><label class="checkbox-inline"><input type="checkbox" class="tracked" data-event-label="Clicked Checkbox" checked name="mailings[values][]" value="southafrica:en">South Africa</label><label class="checkbox-inline"><input type="checkbox" class="tracked" data-event-label="Clicked Checkbox" checked name="mailings[values][]" value="governance:en">Governance</label><label class="checkbox-inline"><input type="checkbox" class="tracked" data-event-label="Clicked Checkbox" checked name="mailings[values][]" value="legalaffairs:en">Legal Affairs</label> </div> </div> <div class="subscriber-info input-group input-group-sm" for="email"> <input type="email" class="form-control" name="email" placeholder="someone@example.com" required maxlength="128"> <span class="input-group-btn"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-success btn-sign-up tracked" data-event-label="Submitted Form" data-enabled-text="Submit" data-disabled-text="Sending..." > Submit </button> </span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Newsletter Signup InRead English v1"> <input type="hidden" name="_type" value="newsletter-signup"> <input type="hidden" name="_time" value="1740908261" /> <input type="hidden" name="_uuid" value="AAAAFVNhbHRlZF9fh6Vj1C9Px62ZL36x/8E4OMkcQWsvOHeDYPucwySROKOHpNDeRmAPSF0DkLShZ+DYCgPu2+HM1Zg=" /> </form> <p class="privacy-notice">By submitting above, you agree to <a href="/misc/info/privacy.html" class="tracked" data-event-label="Clicked Privacy" target="_blank">our privacy policy</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="row messages"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <div class="message success alert alert-success" style="display:none;"> <h4> <i class="fa fa-check-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i> Success! </h4> <p>Almost finished...</p><p>We need to confirm your email address.</p><p>To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you.</p> </div> <div class="message error returned-error alert alert-danger" style="display:none;"> <h4> <i class="fa fa-exclamation-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i> Error! </h4> <div class="returned-errors"></div> </div> <div class="message error generic-error alert alert-danger" role="alert" style="display:none;"> <h4> <i class="fa fa-exclamation-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i> Error! </h4> <p>There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> _ready.push(function($) { if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'newsletter-signup-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/jquery/jquery.serialize-object.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/js/newsletter-signup.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/css/newsletter-signup.min.css?v=2025011000"], 'newsletter-signup-assets', { async: true, }); } // the newsletter widget calls storageAllowed(), which is imported with // the cmp bundle. passing an array of bundle names to loadjs triggers // the callback only after all of the listed bundles have fired. loadjs.ready( [ 'cmp', 'js-cookie', 'events', 'newsletter-signup-assets' ], function() { $('.newsletter-signup.inread.collapse.w-background.w-background-color.blue').newsletterInRead({ maxShowCount: 10, maxCloseCount: 3, maxSuccessCount: 1, }); }); }); </script> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="65">Researchers said that calls for the spaza shop industry to be South African-owned are unlikely to end "unless unemployment and inequality, two systemic issues that South Africans are truly frustrated with, are addressed", according to the CABC report. Until then "scapegoating foreigners and manipulating cognitive vulnerabilities" of South Africans is easily done through online platforms like X and TikTok due to their speed and proliferation.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="66">In addition, government institutions must recognize that any issue involving spaza shops offers troublemakers an opportunity to substantiate narratives they have been driving online for years.  "After all these years dealing with accusations against foreigners, it has become clear that there is a method to agitate the public and drive them to loot the same shops that are being accused of poisoning people," the report revealed.</p> <p class="story-body-text" data-para-word-count="4"><em>Edited by Juanita Williams</em></p> <div id="aans-body-end"></div> <script> loadjs.ready( 'lazyload', function () { const images = document.querySelectorAll('body.interior.story.aans.view .story-body img.lazy'); lazyload(images,{rootMargin:"200px 0px"}); }); ready(function () { fireLoadJSBundle('lazyload'); }); </script> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <div id="in-article-bottom"></div> </div> <div class="row uninitialized" id="more-on-this-carousel"></div> <script> "use strict"; _ready.push(function($) { if ( ! ( 'IntersectionObserver' in window ) ) return; let carouselObserver = new IntersectionObserver( function ( entries, self ) { entries.forEach(entry => { if (!entry.isIntersecting) return; if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'owl-carousel-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn04.allafrica.com/static/js/jquery/owl-carousel/2.3.4/owl.carousel.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn04.allafrica.com/static/css/jquery/owl-carousel/2.3.4/owl.carousel.min.css?v=2025011000","https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/css/jquery/owl-carousel/2.3.4/owl.theme.default.min.css?v=2025011000","https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/css/carousels-screen.min.css?v=2025011000"], 'owl-carousel-assets', { async: true, }); } if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'more-on-this-carousel-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn06.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/main/more-on-this-carousel.js?v=2025011000"], 'more-on-this-carousel-assets', { async: true, }); } loadjs.ready( 'more-on-this-carousel-assets', function() { $( entry.target ).moreOnThisCarousel( {"url":"https://allafrica.com/includes/html/main/more-on-this-carousel.html","doc_key":"AllAfrica_NewsStory|post|202412020426"} ); self.unobserve( entry.target ); }); }); }, { rootMargin: "200px 0px" } ); const carousel = document.getElementById('more-on-this-carousel'); carouselObserver.observe(carousel) }); </script> <div class="tags rounded full-border" data-click-event-action='AANS View Tags Between'> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <span class="tags-label">Tagged:</span> <ul> <li><a href="/southafrica/">South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/southernafrica/">Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/governance/">Governance</a></li> <li><a href="/legalaffairs/">Legal Affairs</a></li> <li><a href="/health/">Health</a></li> <li><a href="/agriculture/">Food and Agriculture</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="sharebar solid bottom a2a_kit a2a_default_style uninitialized" data-a2a-title='Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Grows During Spaza Shop Controversy' data-a2a-url='https://allafrica.com/stories/202412020426.html'> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a> <a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a> <a class="a2a_button_whatsapp"></a> <a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a> <a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a> <a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a> <a class="a2a_button_email"></a> <a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a> </div>  <style> @media print{body.aans.view .column.main .sharebar.solid{display:none !important;}}.sharebar.solid{margin:8px 15px;min-height:calc( 24px + ( 2 * 4px ) );}.sharebar.solid a{margin:4px 0;}@media screen and ( min-width: 768px ){.sharebar.solid{margin:12px 15px;min-height:calc( 32px + ( 2 * 7px ) );}.sharebar.solid a{margin:7px 0;}} </style> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <div class="copyright-notice"> <a href="https://allafrica.com/misc/info/copyright.html">Copyright</a> © 2024 <a target="_blank" href="https://allafrica.com/">allAfrica.com</a>. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (<a href="/">allAfrica.com</a>). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, <a href="https://allafrica.com/view/publisher/editorial/editorial/id/00010437.html">click here.</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-tn-12 col-sm-4 column aside flexible"> <div id="right-top-anchor" class="top-anchor"> <div id="right-a-container" class="outer-ad-container gpt-outer-ad-container gpt-right-outer-ad-container right-a-container" style="display:none;">  <div id="div-gpt-async-ad-right-a" data-dfp-ad-unit="RightA" data-dfp-network="1001373" data-dfp-sizes="[[336,280],[320,480],[300,1050],[300,600],[300,250],[160,600],[120,600]]" class="ad-container gpt-ad right-ad gpt-right-ad right-a inactive"> </div>  </div> <div id="top-headlines-container" class="uninitialized" data-assets='["https://cdn08.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/aside/category-headlines.min.js?v=2025011000"]' data-category='southafrica' data-rows='16' data-url='https://allafrica.com/includes/html/aside/category-headlines.html'></div> <div id="sponsored-headlines-container" class="uninitialized" data-assets='["https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/aside/category-sponsored-headlines.min.js?v=2025011000"]' data-category='southafrica' data-sponsored_type='section' data-url='https://allafrica.com/includes/html/aside/category-sponsored-headlines.html'></div> </div> <div id="right-mid-flex" class="mid-flex"> <div id="tf-container" class="uninitialized" data-assets='["https://cdn06.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/aside/tf.min.js?v=2025011000"]' data-category='southafrica' data-max_photos='25' data-url='https://allafrica.com/includes/html/aside/category-tf.html' style="display:none;"></div> </div> <div id="right-bottom-anchor" class="bottom-anchor"> <div id="right-b-container" class="outer-ad-container gpt-outer-ad-container gpt-right-outer-ad-container right-b-container" style="display:none;">  <div id="div-gpt-async-ad-right-b" data-dfp-ad-unit="RightB" data-dfp-network="1001373" data-dfp-sizes="[[336,280],[320,480],[300,600],[300,250],[160,600],[120,600]]" class="ad-container gpt-ad right-ad gpt-right-ad right-b inactive"> </div>  </div> <div id="publisher-headlines-container" class="uninitialized" data-assets='["https://cdn08.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/aside/publisher-headlines.min.js?v=2025011000"]' data-more_link='0' data-publisher_key='AllAfrica_Publisher|editorial|00010437' data-rows='16' data-show_slug='1' data-url='https://allafrica.com/includes/html/aside/publisher-headlines.html'></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container bottom"> <div class="row uninitialized" id="footer-most-read"></div> <script> "use strict"; _ready.push(function($) { if ( ! ( 'IntersectionObserver' in window ) ) return; let mostReadObserver = new IntersectionObserver( function ( entries, self ) { entries.forEach(entry => { if (!entry.isIntersecting) return; if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'owl-carousel-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn04.allafrica.com/static/js/jquery/owl-carousel/2.3.4/owl.carousel.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn04.allafrica.com/static/css/jquery/owl-carousel/2.3.4/owl.carousel.min.css?v=2025011000","https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/css/jquery/owl-carousel/2.3.4/owl.theme.default.min.css?v=2025011000","https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/css/carousels-screen.min.css?v=2025011000"], 'owl-carousel-assets', { async: true, }); } if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'footer-most-read-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn03.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/footer/most-read.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'footer-most-read-assets', { async: true, }); } loadjs.ready( 'footer-most-read-assets', function() { $( entry.target ).footerMostRead( {"url":"https://allafrica.com/includes/html/footer/most-read.html"} ); }); self.unobserve( entry.target ); }); }, { rootMargin: "200px 0px" } ); const element = document.getElementById('footer-most-read'); mostReadObserver.observe(element) }); </script> <div class="uninitialized" id="footer-trending-tf"></div> <script> "use strict"; _ready.push(function($) { if ( ! ( 'IntersectionObserver' in window ) ) return; let trendingTFObserver = new IntersectionObserver( function ( entries, self ) { entries.forEach(entry => { if (!entry.isIntersecting) return; if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'footer-trending-tf-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn04.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/footer/trending-tf.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'footer-trending-tf-assets', { async: true, }); } loadjs.ready( 'footer-trending-tf-assets', function() { $( entry.target ).footerTrendingTF( {"url":"https://allafrica.com/includes/html/footer/trending-tf.html"} ); }); self.unobserve( entry.target ); }); }, { rootMargin: "200px 0px" } ); const element = document.getElementById('footer-trending-tf'); trendingTFObserver.observe(element) }); </script> <div class="row no-gutter spotlight-grid uninitialized" id="footer-spotlight-grid"></div> <script> "use strict"; _ready.push(function($) { if ( ! ( 'IntersectionObserver' in window ) ) return; let spotlightGridObserver = new IntersectionObserver( function ( entries, self ) { entries.forEach(entry => { if (!entry.isIntersecting) return; if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'spotlight-grid-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/js/includes/spotlight-grid.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'spotlight-grid-assets', { async: true, }); } loadjs.ready( 'spotlight-grid-assets', function() { $( entry.target ).spotlightGrid( {"supplement":["agribusiness","company","commodities","health","ebola","energy","arts","trade","travel","water","malaria","conflict","innovation","business","sustainable","usafrica","media","transport","peacekeeping","land","ncds","climate","latinamericaandafrica","science","legalaffairs","labour","stockmarkets","pregnancy","children","aids","soccer","agriculture","manufacturing","humanrights","investment","nutrition","worldcup","banking","women","coronavirus","terrorism","io","armsandarmies","asiaaustraliaandafrica","capitalflows","sport","olympics","education","privatization","wildlife","corruption","agoa","externalrelations","mining","athletics","infrastructure","ecotourism","petroleum","oceans","debt","gameparks","construction","currencies","europeandafrica","urbanissues","tuberculosis","environment","governance","music","refugees","migration","religion","ngo","middleeastandafrica","ict","polio","books","nepad","aid"],"sent":[],"url":"https://allafrica.com/includes/html/partials/spotlight-grid-cell.html"} ); }); self.unobserve( entry.target ); }); }, { rootMargin: "200px 0px" } ); const element = document.getElementById('footer-spotlight-grid'); spotlightGridObserver.observe(element) }); </script> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <div class="notes"> <p class="note aggregation">AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than <a href="/list/publisher/editorial/editorial/type/pub.html">110 news organizations</a> and over <a href="/list/publisher/editorial/editorial/type/reg.html">500 other institutions and individuals</a>, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.</p> <p class="note original">Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are <a href="/inhouse/">produced or commissioned by AllAfrica</a>. To address comments or complaints, please <a href="/misc/forms/general.html">Contact us</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container footer" id="standard-footer"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12 col-xs-6 col-sm-7 colophon"> <p> AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 500 news and information items daily from over 110 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. </p> </div> <div class="col-tn-12 col-xs-6 col-sm-5"> <div class="rss-and-site-links"> <ul class="site-links click-tracking" data-click-event-action="Footer Site Links" > <li> <a href="/commerce/contribute/" class="donate tracked" data-click-event-label="Donate" >Support our work</a> </li> <li> <a class="newsletter-signup-trigger tracked" style="display:none;" data-toggle="modal" data-target=".newsletter-signup.modal.footer-and-connect-button-target" data-click-event-label="Newsletter Signup" > <i class="fa fa-envelope-o" aria-hidden="true"></i> Sign up for our newsletter </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://partners.allafrica.com/" class="external for-advertisers tracked" data-click-event-label="For Advertisers" >For Advertisers</a> </li> <li> <a class="subscribe tracked" href="/misc/info/subscribe/" data-click-event-label="Subscribe" >Subscribe</a> </li> </ul> <div class="click-tracking connect" data-click-event-action="Footer Connect Widget" > <a data-click-event-label="Facebook" style="display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: calc( 100% / 6 );" href="https://www.facebook.com/allafrica" title="Follow us on Facebook" class="tracked" > <i class="fa fa-facebook-square" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a><a data-click-event-label="Twitter" style="display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: calc( 100% / 6 );" href="https://twitter.com/allafrica" title="Follow us on Twitter" class="tracked" > <i class="fa fa-twitter-square" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a><a data-click-event-label="Telegram" style="display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: calc( 100% / 6 );" href="https://t.me/allafrica" title="Join us on Telegram" class="tracked" > <i class="fa fa-telegram" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a><a data-click-event-label="LinkedIn" style="display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: calc( 100% / 6 );" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/allafrica/" title="Follow us on Linkedin" class="tracked" > <i class="fa fa-linkedin-square" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a><a data-click-event-label="WhatsApp" style="display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: calc( 100% / 6 );" href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaIdDi8Bqbr263erhw1K" title="Follow us on WhatsApp" class="tracked" > <i class="fa fa-whatsapp" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a><a data-click-event-label="RSS" style="display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: calc( 100% / 6 );" href="https://allafrica.com/misc/tools/rss.html" title="Subscribe to AllAfrica via RSS" class="tracked" > <i class="fa fa-rss-square" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a> </div> <div class="app-download row no-gutter"> <div class="google-play-download col-tn-6 col-xs-12 col-sm-6"> <a class="external" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.allafrica.app"> <img alt="Get it on Google Play" src="https://play.google.com/intl/en_us/badges/static/images/badges/en_badge_web_generic.png" /> </a> </div> <div class="app-store-download col-tn-6 col-xs-12 col-sm-6"> <a class="external" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/allafrica/id1571102510?itsct=apps_box_badge&itscg=30200"> <img src="https://tools.applemediaservices.com/api/badges/download-on-the-app-store/black/en-us?size=250x83&releaseDate=1624233600&h=f04eb423ff27f558a97f439f3a3cd400" alt="Download on the App Store"> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12 legal"> <ul> <li class="copy"><a href="/misc/info/copyright.html">© 2025 AllAfrica</a></li> <li class="privacy"><a href="/misc/info/privacy.html">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li class="contact"><a href="/misc/forms/general.html">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="contact"><a href="/misc/info/about.html">About Us</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-tn-12 trademark"> AllAfrica - All the Time </div> </div> </div> <div class="newsletter-signup modal fade footer-and-connect-button-target" role="dialog" aria-expanded="false" data-campaign="Newsletter Signup Footer Button English v1" data-trigger=".container.footer .rss-and-site-links .newsletter-signup-trigger, .column.aside .section.connect .newsletter-signup-trigger" > <div class="modal-dialog">  <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-body"> <div class="row header"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <button type="button" class="close tracked" data-dismiss="modal" data-event-label="Clicked X" aria-label="Close" > <i class="fa fa-times" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span class="sr-only">Close</span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="row body"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <img class="logo img-responsive" src="https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/aa-logo-rgba-no-text-128x128.png" /> <div class="cta"> <h4 class="cta-title">Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters</h4> <p class="cta-text">Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row newsletter-signup-form-container"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <form role="form" method="post" action="#" class="newsletter-signup-form"> <div class="mailings-selector"> <div class="mailings"> <input type="hidden" name="mailings[type]" value="hidden"> <input type="hidden" name="mailings[values][]" value="latest:en"> </div> </div> <div class="subscriber-info input-group input-group-sm" for="email"> <input type="email" class="form-control" name="email" placeholder="someone@example.com" required maxlength="128"> <span class="input-group-btn"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-success btn-sign-up tracked" data-event-label="Submitted Form" data-enabled-text="Submit" data-disabled-text="Sending..." > Submit </button> </span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Newsletter Signup Footer Button English v1"> <input type="hidden" name="_type" value="newsletter-signup"> <input type="hidden" name="_time" value="1740908261" /> <input type="hidden" name="_uuid" value="AAAAFVNhbHRlZF9f0+01sp02tW8UyZkrpBIo1QSGSBHbabLRexooaICHiZxEmwjhbpYfgJWyuipgyzLfV3wblqurd/k=" /> </form> <p class="privacy-notice">By submitting above, you agree to <a href="/misc/info/privacy.html" class="tracked" data-event-label="Clicked Privacy" target="_blank">our privacy policy</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="row messages"> <div class="col-tn-12"> <div class="message success alert alert-success" style="display:none;"> <h4> <i class="fa fa-check-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i> Success! </h4> <p>Almost finished...</p><p>We need to confirm your email address.</p><p>To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you.</p> </div> <div class="message error returned-error alert alert-danger" style="display:none;"> <h4> <i class="fa fa-exclamation-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i> Error! </h4> <div class="returned-errors"></div> </div> <div class="message error generic-error alert alert-danger" role="alert" style="display:none;"> <h4> <i class="fa fa-exclamation-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i> Error! </h4> <p>There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> _ready.push(function($) { if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'newsletter-signup-assets' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/jquery/jquery.serialize-object.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/js/newsletter-signup.min.js?v=2025011000","https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/css/newsletter-signup.min.css?v=2025011000"], 'newsletter-signup-assets', { async: true, }); } // the newsletter widget calls storageAllowed(), which is imported with // the cmp bundle. passing an array of bundle names to loadjs triggers // the callback only after all of the listed bundles have fired. loadjs.ready( [ 'cmp', 'js-cookie', 'events', 'newsletter-signup-assets' ], function() { $('.newsletter-signup.modal.fade.footer-and-connect-button-target').newsletterModal({ maxShowCount: 10, maxCloseCount: 3, maxSuccessCount: 1, }); }); }); </script> <script> _ready.push( function($) { prepareExternalLinks(); }); </script> <style> .section.headlines.spotlight-box ul.stories > li .source, .section.box.headlines ul.stories > li .source, .column.main .section.date-browse ul.stories > li .source { margin-left: .5em; white-space: nowrap; } ul.stories > li > a .more { font-weight: bold; margin-left: 7px; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; } .section.top-news ul.stories > li .summary { margin: 8px 0; } </style> <style> ul.stories > li > a.premium-post-item { background-color: #F3F3F3; } ul.stories > li > a.premium-post-item:hover { background-color: #F0F0F0; } ul.stories > li a.premium-post-flag { padding: 0 !important; } ul.stories > li .premium-post-flag { width: 22px; height: 22px; } .section.box.headlines ul.stories > li span.premium-post-flag { width: 20px; height: 20px; } ul.stories > li .premium-post-flag { float: right; margin-left: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; background-color: transparent; } ul.stories > li .premium-post-flag .sprite { background-image: url('https://cdn09.allafrica.com/static/images/structure/sponsored-sprites.png'); background-position: 0 0; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; width: 100%; height: 100%; line-height: 0 !important; background-size: cover; } ul.stories > li a.premium-post-flag { margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 4px; } .section.box.headlines ul.stories > li span.premium-post-flag { margin-top: 2px; margin-right: -5px; } </style> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-e1eaCwfv4zVTI.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </div> </noscript>  <noscript> <img src="https://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=13865518&cv=2.0&cj=1" alt="" /> </noscript>   <div id="cX-root" style="display:none"></div>  <div id="pixel-container"> </div> <script> ready( function () { _wb({"c":["southafrica","legalaffairs","agriculture","health","governance","southernafrica"],"di":"202412020426","_l":"en","ds":"post","dt":"aans","_t":"read","pi":"00010437"}); } ); </script> <script> function my_addtoany_onready() { a2a.init(); $('.sharebar.solid.uninitialized').removeClass('uninitialized'); _ready.push(function() { var $parents = $('body.view .column.main .sharebar.solid.top, body.view .column.main .sharebar.solid.bottom'); $parents.each(function(i, el) { var $body = $('body'), $parent = $(el), $children = $parent.find( '> a' ), eventAction = 'Share Bar' selectors = {}; if ( $body.hasClass('.aans.view') ) { eventAction = 'AANS View ' + eventAction; } else if ( $body.hasClass('.topical-focus.view') ) { eventAction = 'Group View ' + eventAction; } else if ( $body.hasClass('.resources.view') ) { eventAction = 'Resource View ' + eventAction; } if ( $parent.hasClass( 'top' ) ) { eventAction += ' Top'; } else if ( $parent.hasClass( 'bottom' ) ) { eventAction += ' Bottom'; } $children.each(function(j, el) { var $child = $(el), childClasses = new String( $child.attr( 'class' ) || '' ).split( ' ' ), service, selectorClass; if ( ! childClasses.length ) return true; // continue $.each( childClasses, function(k, childClass){ if ( childClass.match( /^a2a_button_/ ) ) { selectorClass = 'a.' + childClass; service = childClass.replace( /^a2a_button_/, '' ); return false; // break } else if ( childClass === 'a2a_dd' ) { selectorClass = 'a.' + childClass; service = 'More Button'; return false; // break } }); if ( ! service ) return true; // continue if ( service === 'linkedin' ) service = 'LinkedIn' ; if ( service === 'whatsapp' ) service = 'WhatsApp'; if ( service === 'telegram' ) service = 'Telegram'; service = service.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + service.slice(1); selectors[selectorClass] = service; }); if ( $.isEmptyObject( selectors ) ) return true; // continue const nodeList = $parent.get(); attachClickTracking( eventAction, nodeList, selectors ); }); }); } var a2a_config = a2a_config || {}; a2a_config.templates = a2a_config.templates || {}; a2a_config.callbacks = a2a_config.callbacks || []; a2a_config.callbacks.push({ ready: my_addtoany_onready, }); a2a_config.onclick = 1; a2a_config.orientation = 'up'; a2a_config.prioritize = ["facebook","twitter","whatsapp","flipboard","linkedin","reddit","telegram","delicious","stumbleupon"]; a2a_config.locale = "en"; a2a_config.templates.twitter = { via: 'allafrica', }; window.loadA2A = function () { var a2aHeight = 24; if ( $(document).width() >= 768 ) { a2aHeight = 32; } $('div.a2a_kit').addClass('a2a_kit_size_' + a2aHeight); var a = document.createElement('script'); a.type = 'text/javascript'; a.async = true; a.src = '//static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(a, s); }; </script> <script> ready(function(){ fireLoadJSBundle('header'); }); ready(function(){ if ( ! loadjs.isDefined( 'js-cookie' ) ) { loadjs( ["https://cdn08.allafrica.com/static/js/js-cookie/3.0.1/js.cookie.min.js?v=2025011000"], 'js-cookie', { async: true, }); } }); </script> <script src="https://cdn07.allafrica.com/static/js/jquery/jquery-1.9.1.min.js?v=2025011000"></script> <script src="https://cdn05.allafrica.com/static/js/bootstrap/3.3.7/bootstrap.min.js?v=2025011000"></script> <script src="https://cdn01.allafrica.com/static/js/application.min.js?v=2025011000"></script> </body> </html>