Looting turns to acts of criminality

South Africans and people across the globe were taken by shock when former president Jacob Zuma’s followers took to the streets in a march on Sunday 11 July to 15 July under #FreeJacobZuma movement, barricading many roads with tyres and rocks and then targeting Malls and shops in Gauteng and KZN by looting, items such as food, furniture, cellphones, money from ATMs which were broken open, while businesses were left in a state of ruin. 

Many media personnel were wearing a hard helmet and bullet proof vest to protect themselves while they risked their lives to give the nation the news that is accurate.  Some media reporters were harmed and injured while some had their work and personal belongings ripped off them in an unruly manner.

 

Malls and spaza shops were looted to such an extent that many shops were set alight while people were seen walking and some running freely with many goods all excited, they have got something for free. 

 

SAPS POP Unit, and JMPD POP Unit were on the ground doing their utmost best to stop the looters from looting but eventually the President Cyril Ramaphosa had to bring in the South National Defense Force to assist and help with the manpower to stop the looters who also were carrying live round bullets and guns. 

Malls in Soweto that were targeted were Dobsonville Mall, Protea Glen Mall, Protea Gardens, Dube Mall, Jabulani Mall, Diepkloof Mall and with the help of Pimville Community and Soweto Parliament member Nhlanhla Lux and others, the barbaric looters were not able to touch Maponya Mall, the largest mall in Soweto.

 

Protea Mall was set alight on Tuesday, 13 July by looters who did not care about their family and friends who have lost their jobs. Retail workers from many different stores across Gauteng and KZN are left stranded unsure if they will be paid or not and are their jobs secured again or not.

 

Protea Glen Mall Store Incredible Money, store manager Pitso Zikalala who was left in utter disgust looking at his store explained that the looting could possibly be where retail workers will unfortunately lose their jobs. 

 

“It’s truly messed up, I’m not really sure what is going to happen but one thing for sure that I know is livelihoods will be badly affected. Three of our shops located in Soweto have looted and we will have to deal with 200 employees who could possibly lose their jobs,” said Zikalala 

 

He added that their company being a pawn business, it is dealing with loaning of money who bring in valuable items which they have left with the company. 

 

He felt like he was losing hope because he was not sure how they were going to find solutions to resolving their loose of customers goods and their staff matter as many of the staff are bread winners of their homes.

 

Community members eventually came together after looters destroyed everything to clean up the malls which were left unrecognizable in hope that rebuilding of them begins soon, and many can have jobs again.