“At Least You Were Respectful”: Kasi Man Goes Around Shutting Foreign Nationals’ Spaza Shops

• A Johannesburg man went around his neighbourhood checking which spaza shops were still open after the "mabahambe" protests
• He found two foreign-owned shops operating and called for them to shut down, while a third had already closed
• South Africans in the comments were divided, with some praising his approach and others asking what comes next for communities
• Briefly News spoke with Delft resident Nomabhaso Dukisa to get her perspective on the community discussions surrounding the closing of foreign-owned spaza shops

A Johannesburg man took to the streets on 1 July 2026 to check on spaza shops in his area after the "mabahambe" (they must go) massive protests, which have called on foreign nationals to return to their home countries. TikTok user @gubithebrother_29 walked through the neighbourhood, stopping at spaza shops to see which ones were still trading.

Spaza shop closures spark debate

The man found two open and operating, and confronted the owners directly, calling for them to close their doors. A third shop he visited had already shut. What set his actions apart was how the man carried himself throughout. He did not become aggressive and, at some point, allowed the owner to close after serving a customer.

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"Keep them": Zimbabwean woman roasts her countrymen rturning from SA after ant-foreigner protests in video

Watch the TikTok video that sparked the debate here.

Community dynamics and the local spaza shop debate

The Briefly News team spoke with Nomabhaso and asked how township businesses affect daily life and the complex feelings surrounding calls for their closure.

We asked what her take was on the ongoing calls to close foreign-owned spaza shops in Delft. She responded:

“It is a very sensitive issue with valid points on both sides. While some want to create opportunities for local South African business owners, many residents rely heavily on these existing shops.”

We noted her mention that residents rely on them and asked how the shop owners supported the community. She said:

“Spaza shop owners are very generous. They frequently help struggling families by letting them buy daily essentials like bread and milk on credit, which is a lifesaver when money is tight.”

When asked how she thinks the community and authorities should handle this situation moving forward, Nomabhaso shared:

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"Uniting long lost families": Nigerian man returns home with his SA family after years away

“We need a fair and peaceful solution. Instead of forced closures, there should be proper regulation and cooperation so that everyone can co-exist without causing hardship to needy families.”

Mzansi discusses the calls for foreign nationals' spaza closures

The comments captured exactly what many South Africans are wrestling with: frustration over economic exclusion on one side, and real uncertainty about who will fill the gap on the other.

User @Perfectionmaad asked:

"Then what next after closing 🤔👍? Then what?"

User @user15272454293230 suggested:

"Please go there next week Thursday again."

User @gogo mahlalaentabeni raised a concern:

"Is there anyone who can open a tuck shop to help the community, please? Let's not just close these shops and not create an alternative for our people."

User @La_Waters wrote:

"I respect you so much for doing this 🥺"

User @Washagang added:

"At least you were respectful."

3 Briefly News immigrant protest-related articles

• A group of foreign nationals were escorted out of KwaZulu-Natal after community members were told that there were no keys to open the door at the neighbourhood home.
• A Ghanaian repatriate showed off severe physical scars he alleged to have sustained during immigration protests in Mzansi, sparking a massive online debate.
• A young Zimbabwean man who has lived in South Africa for 25 years shared an emotional post online, expressing his gratitude towards the country for providing him with shelter and education.

Source: Briefly News