Doing business in a foreign land.

Mangaung Issue was out and about doing a story on foreign-owned shops and we spoke to Tomasi Awano Abiyo who is an Ethiopian. We asked his what lead him to come to South Africa and he replied in few words, “Ethiopia president many problem, political problems” he said. Abiyo has been running his shop since last year in an RDP bedroom. He was not happy to give Mangaung Issue answers about his business, during our interview. However, Abiyo was more than happy to talk about friends he has made so far. With his English still needing some work, Abiyo can hear and speak a few words in Sesotho. Not too far from Abiyo’s shop, is the 67 year old David Mosikara whom has owned his shop for decades. “I have nothing against foreign nationals, but they are cheating our people their change and also they are not treating them right” said Mosikara. When asked if the foreigners would come to him to do business, Mosikara said “we as shop owners in Bloemfontein, we have to come together just like them and not work with them because they took our customers”. Speaking to one of Mosikara’s customers, Alina Matshosa, she said the reason she is buying from Mosikara is because of his prices. When Mangaung Issue got back to Abiyo’s shop he was not willing to talk to us and suggested we talk to someone else. We then spoke to one of his regulars a pensioner, Nomaeza Khoaele and she said “I buy stuff at Abiyo’s shop because is near to my house and I also buy at Mosikara’s shop too”. Abiyo’s land-lady who wishes to be anonymous said her relationship with him is a good one. “He lets me buy his goods on credit since I am a pensioner and then I pay him whenever I have money” said the Land-lady.