Kwatsaduza – It is a sad state of affairs as business owners and employees whose businesses were damaged and looted during the #FreeZuma campaign try to salvage and pick up the pieces of what used to be their source of income.
The riots that started in KZN calling for the release of the former state president, Jacob Zuma, last week soon spread, and Gauteng townships were not spared.
Stores were looted, infrastructure damaged, lives were lost, scores were injured and hundreds arrested.
The chaos soon spread to Kwatsaduza, and angry residents joined in the campaign and went on a rampage.
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A total of 47 tuck shops, butcheries and pharmacies were vandalised and looted.
In Kwa-Thema, Usave in White City, Kwa-Thema Square, Food World, Tonkmeter Crossing and foreign-owned stores were not spared.
One person was shot and killed during the looting at Tonkmeter Crossing on Monday night, while two died during a stampede in Duduza.
Kwa-Thema police spokesperson Const Nkululeko Magudulela confirmed that 23 people were arrested for public violence.
Seventeen people were arrested on Tuesday evening for breaking into and looting Food World Market.
In another incident, a 43-year-old man was arrested for the possession of suspected stolen goods after the police responded to a tip-off from residents about a house along Thipe Street that contained homeware appliances that were stolen.
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“The stolen goods include a refrigerator, home theatre system and other electrical appliances.
“The suspect could not account as to how he obtained the property in his possession.
“He was charged with possession of suspected stolen property,” he said.
In Kwa-Thema, two suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property when members of the Gauteng Highway Patrol noticed the duo loading a fridge into a Toyota Quantum.
The Quantum was followed and stopped outside the Kwa-Thema Police Station.
“The fridge is suspected to have been looted from Kwa-Thema Square in Brakpan,” Magudulela added.
Meanwhile, in Duduza, four people were arrested.
This was confirmed by Duduza police spokesperson Sgt Harry Manaka.
“Three people were arrested for illegal gathering, public violence, business burglary, malicious damage to property, possession of suspected stolen goods and one person was arrested for possession of suspected stolen goods,” he said.
Manaka explained police were able to protect local businesses through prompt responses to tip-offs from residents.
Also read: Man who shot at looters sentenced to 29 years’ imprisonment
In Tsakani, Tsakani Square ATMs were vandalised and some shops were set alight, but emergency services responded on time and extinguished the blaze.
Plus Butchery and Usave in Extension 19 were looted.
Ward 85 councillor Sipho Sibiya was at the forefront of protecting the Tsakani Mall.
“We could not stand and watch as the perpetrators damaged the infrastructure we worked hard to achieve over the years.
“We worked with the security agencies to ensure the mall was not touched.
“We are compiling a list of all the businesses that were looted to help quantify and estimate the damages,” he added.
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