Cele visits Nkomo Village mall after being looted
“Even though we know that some of the looters are our brothers and friends, we stood against them looting our stores.”
Atteridgeville residents have banded together to protect their local malls, after three shops in Nkomo Village mall were looted on Monday evening.
On Thursday the minister of police Bheki Cele was met by a community structure called “The Kasie Brothers” at the mall. They vowed to protect their township against looting.
“Even though we know that some of the looters are our brothers and friends, we stood against them looting our stores,” said Clifford Moteleng, a member of the Kasie Brothers.
“We have brothers and sisters who work in this very same community that our fellow brothers and sisters are trying to loot.”
Moteleng said other people in the community were, however, not very happy about what they are doing.
“They think we are trying to help ourselves, but we are only thinking about our families and our children.
“We do not want to see what has happened in KwaZulu-Natal and other parts of Gauteng happen here in our community,” said resident Thapelo Mphela.
“We understand that people are without jobs or any income, but we cannot condone the looting and burning of malls. That will have a serious impact on the families who depend on the people who work in those malls.”
Mphela said the government needs to find ways to create employment as a lot of young people in the community are unemployed.
“We understand their frustrations, but this is not reason enough to burn or loot malls.”
He urged other community members to join them in protecting other local businesses.
“Residents should stand up and protect our infrastructure; we can not afford to lose the little infrastructure we have in our township.”
Cele said authorities welcomed those who are worked with them, but did not encourage parallel structures.
“There is an extra question of thuggery and criminality; for instance, people going to malls armed with guns, shooting at the police and whoever is trying to protect those malls.
“If you say you are hungry, you do not have money to buy guns. The thuggery is organised. We, as the police, need to respond to all that and we will be working with the community.”
Five hundred eighty-six people have been arrested for looting in the province thus far, according to acting provincial commissioner Major General Tommy Mthombeni.
“These arrests also included two of our own, namely two police officials. We are sending a message to members of the SAPS that we are here to ensure the community out there are and feel safe. We cannot have our own involved in assisting the criminals in terms of stealing,” said Mthombeni.
Nkomo Village mall centre manager Lebogang Mofokeng confirmed three shops were looted on Monday, but the centre has been open again since Wednesday.
The centre are currently only open from 09:00 to 16:00.
“We will continue these hours until the dust settles,” said Mofokeng.
“We agreed that we do that until Sunday and see how the rest of the week and weekend goes.”
Mofokeng thanked the police, metro police, the local CPF, the Kasie Brothers and other community members who have protected them from looters.
“They have been with us from day one.”
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