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While former president Jacob Zuma is serving 15 months in jail at the Estcourt Correctional Centre for contempt of court after refusing to appear before the state capture commission, those claiming to be his supporters and demanding his release unleashed havoc on the streets of Durban and surrounding areas, instigating social unrest and bringing the province to its knees.
The province once labelled the “killing fields” due to political violence in the early 1980s and late 1990s, is again being laid to waste by rampant lawlessness, with widespread looting of malls, bottle stores and retail outlets and businesses being razed to the ground. This time the unrest has been sparked by internal party battles and involves supporters of a former leader of the ruling party.
Concerned by the mayhem and carnage, business and community leaders are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency and deploy the army to restore law and order.
On Sunday night large malls and retail stories were looted by the group who pilfered products, including furniture, while security personal and police in some instances watched aghast, unable to do anything as there were little or no backup or reinforcements. Gunfire could be heard throughout the province as police and members of various security sectors came under fire from unruly mobs. Some arrests were made, but the actual number is not yet known.
Police and independent security companies have also come under fire in retaliatory attacks from protesters who are also taking to the streets demanding improved service delivery and a better life. Some are armed with automatic weapons and hand guns in areas around Durban.
Countless stores and malls were looted well past midnight, with incidents being reported since last week. Videos taken by witnesses show how the plundering has raged out of control and peaked on Sunday night. Several premises after being looted were razed to the ground.
The Durban Metro was especially hard hit, with some big malls and shopping centres cleaned out by protesters, who have left a trail of destruction in their paths and witnesses traumatised.
Videos circulated by independent security networks show malls, garages, butcheries, retail stores and bottle stores being plundered, with some stores set on fire. Even ambulances en route to emergency scenes were stoned.
By midnight traffic routes in the region were closed in the interests of safety and security, including all lanes at the N3 Mooi River toll plaza. Southbound traffic was being diverted at Midway, and northbound traffic at Midmar and Howick.
“We need the army deployed to help bring calm and end the opportunistic pillaging. Police in the province are stretched beyond capacity, and are depending heavily on the support of community policing forums, private security and volunteers.
“Police stations in the Durban area are also coming under attack from armed protesters. This is now a hybrid scenario of a political protest that has now become a service delivery protest, which has escalated into criminal opportunism,” says Zain Soosiwala, spokesperson for private security company eThekwini Secure.
Meanwhile, business, political and other leaders have condemned the attacks and welcomed Ramaphosa’s promise to the nation to bring to book all those involved in acts of violence and criminality.
The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the disruptive activity is damaging to the economic infrastructure, and the threat to food security should be taken very seriously. Producers of essential foods have now decided to temporarily shut down. Their on-site factories have had to stop production since Friday as stock is unable to be moved. This has affected job security as workers will have to stay home, be placed on short time or even retrenched.
“This is a national crisis, no food means more poverty in our country, we are already dealing with the poverty that has been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the job security threat will increase the numbers of crime statistics.
“The logistics sector as it stands has been hit hard. The number of trucks that have been burnt over the past two days have caused other business owners in the industry decide to ground their trucks for the safety of their employees and the protection of their businesses.
“While we have noted the rapid response by law enforcement, we call for further deployment. We are calling on our president to declare our province a state of disaster and deploy the SANDF to come and assist,” said chamber president Nigel Ward.
The Defend our Democracy campaign condemns the recent acts of violence gripping parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
“We urge all arms of government to rally behind that call. Our security services must put in place proactive measures to prevent attacks from occurring, and the instigators and perpetrators of violence must be arrested and charged.
“We furthermore implore political parties to act decisively against members and supporters found to be advocating for violence. All political parties have an obligation to display a sense of leadership in quelling the current situation,” said spokesperson Dipak Patel.
The organisation called for an end to the chaos and lawlessness “disguised as protest action” and condemned the looting as well as those who have used social media to promote the mayhem, saying there must be consequences for the endorsement of violence.
Life in the province has come to a standstill, with most businesses opting to shut up shop and residents staying indoors, amid the fear of attacks and retaliation from protesters.
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