The recent looting in some parts of Benoni has left business owners in a panic as some are not fully covered by insurance and employees question if they will still be able to put food on the table for their families.
The looting incidents started on July 12, where looters vandalised several shopping centres around the area.
More than 100 looters have been arrested and detained at various police stations.
Mayfield Square Shopping Centre
More looters have been arrested by the EMPD and Putfontein SAPS members on July 13 at Mayfield Shopping Centre.
The police together with security officers had their hands full in chasing and firing rubber bullets at looters since yesterday (July 13) and in the early hours of this morning (July 14).
When the City Times visited the centre this morning, some of the looters had broken down walls to gain entry into some of the stores.
A KFC outlet at the centre was also burnt down on July 12 at around 21:00.
Some of the employees and business owners were at the mall assessing the damage and cleaning up what has been left by the looters.
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Clothing stores and furniture shops were cleaned out and some of the ATMs were broken.
Medical files, which were thrown out by the looters, were flying all over the centre.
The recent looting has left many employees at the centre worried about their jobs.
Zinhle*, an employee at one of the food outlets, said it is so painful to see how the shopping centre has been vandalised.
“It takes years for a mall to be built and within just a few hours this is what it has become,” she said. “Breadwinners will lose jobs and the very same people who vandalised the mall will cry about unemployment yet they are the ones who took the bread out of our mouths.”
Tops At Crystal Gate SPAR
The Tops at Crystal Gate Spar, in Crystal Park, was looted on July 12 around 19.30 and the owners are not only left with damages and a mess but are also worried as they are not fully covered by their insurance.
“I was contacted by our security for the complex on the evening when the looting began,” said SPAR owner, who wants to be anonymous.
“We immediately phoned the SAPS and it responded swiftly on the scene, arresting two of the looters with the rest, unfortunately, getting away.”
The entrance to Tops, according to the SPAR owner, was driven into by the looters with an alleged highjacked vehicle.
“They made a complete mess and caused so much damage not only to the property itself but also to many of the items and stock inside,” she said.
“They were using the shopping baskets to pack items into, taking things, such as expensive bottles of alcohol within the cabinets and breaking things along the way.
“We had to close at 14.00 yesterday (July 13) as the police came to warn us that looters were in the area, so we also missed deliveries, and some deliveries have not even been made due to the N3 being closed. We don’t know now which deliveries we will receive and which we won’t.
“I must say through all of this, the Crystal Park SAPS and community have been amazing, last night the community stood up and came to protect the complex and have advised they will continue to do so, so I thank them all very much for their protection and support.”
The Crystal Park SAPS arrested eight people for vandalising the store and being in possession of stolen goods.
Actonville
A tuck shop owner who was affected by the looting that took place on the evening of July 11 explained that he had fallen ill from all the stress caused as he had lost a large amount of money due to stock theft, which included furniture.
He had been at the same store for over 10 years and he is at a loss for words at the experience as they stole all the stock.
“I will not be able to open the store anytime soon as I do not have the money to repair the damages and restock.”
The City Times visited the Cloverdene Shopping Centre, which has been temporarily closed; however, police officers and security companies were seen in the parking lot guarding the area.
Law-enforcement officers have been stationed at the shopping centre to monitor the situation.
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