#SurvivingTheUnrest: United we stand, divided we fall…

While the people of KwaDukuza are still reeling from the devastation left in the wake of the mass looting and rioting which broke out on July 8, what rises from the ashes is a stronger and more united community.

What started as protest action in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal over the imprisonment of former president, Jacob Zuma, quickly devolved into large-scale riots and looting.

Tongaat, Shakaskraal and Stanger business districts were severely damaged by rampaging mobs, but combined efforts and swift action of the greater Ballito community saw the looters kept out and infrastructure remained intact.

Residents of Ballito and Shaka’s Head, taxi associations, retailers, neighbourhood watches and security companies formed the Greater Ballito Operations Committee (GBOC) and closed off the area to all but residents and essential services.

Together they worked tirelessly to protect the area as police resources were spread thin.

IPSS Electronic Security chief operations officer, Brennon Knott said security officers were fully engaged for the better part of the first 3 days.

“Sunday evening (July 11) through to late on Monday were the most intense periods as there were multiple attempts by protestors to gain access to the Ballito area,” he said.

Volunteers described how a minibus loaded with passengers suspected to be looters cruised the Chaka’s Rock bridge 3 times before attempting to storm in. They never made it through.

A call for volunteers went out and hundreds of people from all walks of life and skin colours joined to protect the town’s business area.

Barricades were erected at the Ballito, Chaka’s Rock, Salt Rock and other minor entrances on July 11.

These have since been removed and volunteers continued to run checkpoints with the support of Umhlali Saps and KwaDukuza municipal (KDM) protection services until Tuesday night. Patrols will continue.

GBOC CEO Warwick Chapman and security head Mark Whitehead said they owed a huge debt of gratitude to every volunteer who had played their part.

“There were too many people to name, from the residents and Saps, to the security companies, taxi associations, retailers, KDM and makers of hot coffee for the volunteers. Without each one of you none of this would have been possible.”

Assessment of the damage throughout iLembe District is ongoing.

According to iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism’s Cobus Oelofse, the rand value of damages could be into the billions.

“The long term effect of job losses and the loss of business on individuals and families is unquantifiable. The short term impact of reputational damage on sectors such as tourism is also unquantifiable. The immediate and most important element is to ensure that access to essential goods, including medication and fuel, is restored.”

While 12 businesses were looted and some burnt in the Isithebe industrial park, small businesses which see to the needs of rural areas also suffered. Many small businesses, especially spaza shops, were not able to benefit from insurance companies.

“Job losses in the formal sector will exacerbate the existing job crisis, and it is especially the loss of labour intensive factories that is of concern, with owners either deciding not to reopen or relocate their businesses to safer locations,” said Oelofse.

At a meeting of KDM, iLembe district municipality, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the GBOC, iLembe Chamber of Commerce and the Ballito UIP, on Monday it was decided that a joint approach would be taken to continue protecting the area.

KDM, Saps and community policing forums will now manage security, including the manning of checkpoints.

“These parties will continue to strive for greater cohesion as we prioritise the matter of food security and access thereto over the coming weeks,” said KDM spokesman Sipho Mkhize.

“Coming together through this very strenuous and unstable time has reminded us of ‘Ubuntu’ – working together will ensure success,” he said.

Umhlali Saps communications officer, Captain Vinny Pillay said they were grateful for the community’s solidarity.

“We would never have been able to do any of this without the support of the community,” he said.

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