Carpet business hangs by a thread after R148k rugs looted
Janine Hofmeyr is appealing to the community to come forward with any information that could help her locate four Persian rugs that were looted.
AMONG those hard-hit by the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal was Durban businesswoman, Janine Hofmeyr, who says her carpet cleaning business is hanging by a thread after Persian rugs valued at R148 000 were looted.
Hofmeyr is appealing to the community to come forward with any information that could help her locate four Persian rugs and one shag rug that were looted from a Westmead warehouse on Monday, July 12.
Hofmeyr’s business, Spring Cleaning Durban was already heavily impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown period. The small, family-run business specialises in cleaning Persian rugs.
They service clients in and around Durban as well as Johannesburg, where Hofmeyr makes the the bulk of her income.
In case you missed it: WATCH: Rampant looting across Durban
“I have a client based in Johannesburg, because I am originally from the Transvaal. She has been with me for eight years. When I moved to Durban six years ago, my client stayed with me. Her rugs had arrived with a courier company on the Monday when the looting took place. There were five rugs stolen – four Persian rugs and one shag rug. They are of sentimental value to the client,” said Hofmeyr.
The Persian rugs range in size and design with the largest measuring 4m x 3m with a red floral pattern. There are two rugs that measure 2.9m x 2m: one is gold cream and black and the other is light brown and pink. At 1.9m x 1.2 m, the smallest Persian rug is red with a white fringe. The fifth carpet is a shag rug of 2m x 3m valued at about R20 000. The rugs were packaged in plastic.
Also read: Man accused of looting to remain in custody
As her client was sending the rugs to be cleaned every few months, Hofmeyr said Spring Cleaning Durban will not survive without the regular business.
“With everything that’s been going on, this was the last straw. The last year and a half has been so quiet. It’s mainly my Johannesburg clients that I have been servicing. When this happened, I walked through the warehouse five times to try and find the rugs. I went to look for the rugs on Saturday, July 17- before that I could not get out to check as we were blocked in at home,” she added.
To share information about the whereabouts of the rugs, contact Hofmeyr on 061 460 1086.
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