Non-profit organisation Khulisa Social Solutions hosted a dialogue on July 28 at the old Alexandra Police Station to facilitate a discussion of those affected by the recent looting.
Alex community members, business owners whose shops were looted and destroyed, and former employees who lost jobs as a result of the unrest, all participated in the healing session to come to terms with their losses and to brainstorm ways to rebuild their businesses and lives.
Khulisa, a brainchild of Lesley Ann van Selm, aims to empower vulnerable children, the youth, those who are marginalised, and the community at large to develop skills that could lead to a sustainable future.
Van Selm said most business owners were still traumatised by the events of the recent looting of their shops during the riots and they were still not sure how they would rebuild their businesses.
She advised that business owners should just accept their losses and move on rather than relying on the government for help.
“We should find ways to help our fellow community members rebuild what was damaged during looting because they have lost hope since starting a business is hard,” Van Selm said.
Vernon Moodley, the owner of KwaZulu Muthi Supermarket believed that the vast majority of looters were youth.
Moodley suggested that local shops should hire local people to create job opportunities within the community and that parents should teach their children basic work skills.
“Parents’ primary responsibility is to raise their children right. If kids see their parents doing mischief, they will likely follow in their footsteps,” he said. “An apple does not fall far from the tree.”
Community member Eunice Qwabe provided another solution. She suggested that community role models such as teachers, police officers, and social workers should instill a positive mindset in children by not drinking in front of them or at the same club.
Khulisa will also offer free counselling to the victims of looting so that they could start thinking about how to rebuild their businesses.
