Army restores order in Isithebe Industrial Park – Mandeni
The area has faced several days of violent looting and rioting in the wake of what started as a protest to have former president Jacob Zuma removed from prison.
The arrival of the soldiers in Isithebe last night has brought some calm, but factory owners are devastated by the massive destruction in the industrial estate in Mandeni.
However, residents from several other areas on the North Coast claimed that defence force teams appeared to merely be monitoring protest action and had done little to deter looters.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) this morning condemned the looting in Isithebe.
“We are deeply disturbed at the looting and burning of factories and other workplaces.
“In Isithebe, for example, a brand new clothing factory which was set up only in September last year has been completely destroyed,” said Cosatu-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union general secretary, Andre Kriel.
More than 600 jobs have been lost as a result, impacting more than 3 000 family members.
“Together with national government and employers, we have been working extremely hard to save and create industrial jobs.
“The future sustainability of our efforts are being undermined by such horrific and unashamed criminal activity,” said Kriel.
Kriel called on police and law enforcement agencies to clamp down on violence.
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