Residents join hands to protect local businesses
One unsung heroine is Nosipho Msiza, a health activist and entrepreneur, who prepared a hearty meal and warm beverages for the volunteers stationed at Tsakani Mall.
Kwatsaduza – Residents of Kwatsaduza stood up and chanted “not in our name” as they formed a human shield to protect their malls and shopping centres from being vandalised and looted.
Residents, private security companies, police, military, political heads, pastors and taxi drivers joined hands to ensure calm was restored in their area.
This was after a week of destruction calling for the release of the former president Jacob Zuma two weeks ago.
Concerned residents pulled an all-night guard at the targeted business sites to ensure they were not touched or further vandalised and those implicated were brought to book.
Through their efforts, Tsakani Mall was left untouched. One unsung heroine is Nosipho Msiza, a health activist and entrepreneur, who prepared a hearty meal and warm beverages for the volunteers stationed at Tsakani Mall. Her initiative catered for 50 volunteers twice a day.
She explained after she heard about the selfless volunteers at the mall, she decided to join in and be counted among those who were doing good in the area.
Small businesses in desperate need of financial relief
“It was very cold and I knew that for the residents to be motivated, something good had to be done. I decided to prepare the soup and coffee stall to ensure they were kept warm.
“This was to show gratitude, even though I am unable to patrol with them all night I see them and appreciate their efforts,” she said.
In Kwa-Thema residents helped clean vandalised and looted Kwa-Thema Square and Tsakani Square. In Duduza, where a majority of the businesses which were vandalised were those of foreign nationals, residents tipped off the police about looters and where the looted goods were hidden.
A 25-year-old man was arrested for possession of the suspected stolen property. Duduza police spokesperson Sgt Harry Manaka confirmed the man was found in possession of groceries and appliances suspected to have been looted from one of the supermarkets.
Residents clean up what’s left of Kwa-Thema Square
He was arrested at a house following tip-offs to police about people who may be in possession of items suspected to be acquired from the looting.
A 21-year-old woman was arrested for inciting violence in the area. It is alleged she was found circulating messages on social media to loot and vandalise local businesses on her Facebook page.
Local pastors held prayer sessions, calling for calm and peace to be restored in the area while local taxi drivers joined the patrollers to offer extra security. Councillor Sipho Sibiya said it is through the good deeds by the residents that calm was restored to the area.
