Business owners speak out on devestation in Tongaat [Watch]

Tongaat CBD was torn apart by last week’s violent protests and looting, rioters using petrol bombs, makeshift crowbars and their bare hands to strip the shops.

One of the store owners, a foreign national who asked not to be named, said he believed it was not just residents looting shops, but a properly planned assault.

“I was standing on the side of the road and they were coming in groups. The first group broke the doors and left and just after them, another group got into the store and took whatever they wanted. We did not have the power and resources to protect our shops.”

Rony Singh, who owns an electronics and cellphone shop said he was standing across the road when a mob of about 400 to 500 people ripped his shop apart.

“There were too many of them, there was no way I could stop them. All I could do was stand and look at my hard work being taken for free. I stood there shocked, even when police started firing rubber bullets, I could not move. I got hit just under my eye,” said Singh.

He lost stock to the value of R160 000 and on Monday was clearing up.

“I have to start afresh and keep on moving but what happened was very painful, I won’t lie.”

Civilian watches have become common across KwaZulu-Natal and Tongaat was no different, with many residents staying awake for days at a time to prevent further violence.

Similarly, security guards of various stores continued to work with nothing left to guard, trying their best to keep the peace.

Most were willing to talk to the Courier but asked not to be named, fearing further conflicts.

Tongaat also saw many buildings burnt, the epicenter being the Shoprite centre on Gopalall Hurbans Street.

At least 9 businesses were completely looted and burnt, including Shoprite, Pep, a salon, cellphone store and bottle store.

Shoprite was still on fire last Thursday morning and isolated looters continued to try and take what they could from surrounding stores.

Rioters also damaged property at the outlying areas of Gandhi’s Hill and Waterways, some distance from the town centre.

Wandy Mhlungu, who owns a salon near Waterways, was stuck in Johannesburg and forced to watch the situation unfold from afar.

“I have 3 salons on the North Coast and only the one in Ballito is still safe,” he said.

He estimated that between 4 and 6 of his employees would lose their jobs as a result.