KwaDukuza Municipal (KDM) Council has called for calm, respect for the rule of law and social cohesion during the unprecedented times facing South Africa.

“The KDM Council has noted with concern and disappointment the level of criminality, destruction of property and looting of various businesses. The Council has noted that during the last few days criminals targeted liquor outlets and thereafter their focus changed to all types of businesses.”

“The Council further appreciates the work done by all of our law enforcement agencies, including private sector security companies, organised community-based crime-fighting bodies and general members of the public who have played a part in reducing the looting and destruction of property and its impact on our communities.”

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Regarding the impact on the local economy, the Council recognised KwaDukuza CBD, Shakaskraal, Etete, Groutville and Stanger Manor as the areas hardest hit.

“The impact will be felt in the next few months, in particular by those who have been employed by the looted businesses, business owners who have to repair their damaged properties and try to keep tenants, informal traders and the public transport sector.”

“This impact will also contribute to the increase of crime within our communities due to the sharp increase in unemployment, inequalities and poverty.”

Complaints of racism at community led roadblocks

“The looting of shops selling food, various national distribution centres and burning of trucks had compromised the food chain countrywide.

“KwaDukuza is not the exception and is highly affected. The Council have noted that there is ongoing apprehension in our community, whereby certain communities working with the private sector have designated the catchment ‘roadblocks’ areas of those who will have access to shops or be given a special preference in terms of buying goods and services.”

“As Council, we would like to call all food outlets and garages to ensure that they adhere to the constitution by ensuring that all people irrespective of race, religion or creed, have access to the shops within our jurisdiction and goods sold in those shops.”

Council referred specifically to barricades in Ballito.

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“The Council appreciates the work that has been done over the last few days by various communities in our area to ensure the safety of their property and business properties and also to ensure we keep what is left in our area.”

“This has been done to complement the overstretched law enforcement agencies, who have been overwhelmed by the number of people that were part of criminal acts engulfing our area. We have also noted that there has been both positive and negative reaction by our residents about these initiatives.”

“As the Council, we are concerned by various videos that are capturing what is deemed as acts of racism in some of the access points in particular in the area of Ballito.”

KDM Community Safety officers tried to close down the Ballito barricade yesterday afternoon, but after a 3-hour meeting at Salt Rock Hotel it was decided that the barricades would remain.

The meeting saw stakeholder representation from KwaDukuza Community Safety, Saps, Ballito and Salt Rock Neighbourhood Watch, community representatives from a number of bodies and areas as well as businesses in and around the Greater Ballito in order ensure a fair and equitable outcome for the reopening of stores today.

Greater Ballito Operations Centre (GBOC) CEO, Warwick Chapman acknowledged Council’s concerns, saying GBOC were investigating all claims of racist or abusive behaviour at the roadblocks.

“As GBOC, we do not condone racist or abusive behaviour on any level. The roadblocks have been essential to ensure that the Greater Ballito’s food and other essential goods supply was not compromised in any way, protecting them for use by people of all races.

“The overriding intention is to ensure a fair and equitable opportunity to all residents to access retailers and to purchase products, subject to certain strict conditions.

“These agreements were reached impartially and without any bias in regards to competition, colour, race, class or creed.”

In closing on the issue of community safety initiatives and the equitable access of communities to essential items, KDM said,
“As we are facing the challenges of access to food and other necessities, everybody is affected whether you are staying along the N2 or R102. We should use this crisis we are facing to unite our community and promote the spirit of ubuntu.”

“We are also calling on business owners and national retailers to provide leadership as responsible corporate citizens by ensuring that they serve all people with equitable food. We are calling all our community members to adhere to restrictions on the number of items they can buy per shop to ensure equal distribution of food during this period.”

“The Council has a responsibility of ensuring that there is peace and stability in our area. We don’t want to see the issue of access to certain areas and shops, being used by certain individuals to advance racism and community discord. Let us all have access to food, petrol and health facilities.”

Covid-19 pandemic

Finally, the council noted the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

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“Let us ensure that in all our queues we adhere to social distancing and wearing of masks. We are also calling all community members who are between the age of 35 to 49, to register for their Covid vaccination.”