Briardene businesses begin road to recovery
Some businesses from the North Coast Road Industrial Park have begun the process of rebuilding following the KZN unrest in July.
IN the wake of an unprecedented chain of events that saw businesses looted and razed, an uMhlanga businessman said he is encouraged that some businesses have begun to rebuild.
The chairman of the body corporate of the North Coast Road Industrial Park, Ian Ivison said several businesses within the park on Krishna Road in Briardene were looted and a few were set on fire. He estimated the damage to be more than R40m across the businesses that include a chickery, an industrial air-conditioning company, a home security business and a tyre storage facility.
Speaking to Northglen News last week, Ivison highlighted the struggles the businesses within the industrial park have faced since the looting.
Related article: WATCH: Briardene businessmen heartbroken over looting and arson
“Most of the rebuild work being undertaken has been done through our own finances while we wait on the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria). It has been heartening to see how some businesses have begun the rebuilding process, but the scars of what occurred remain. Our company, which supplies engineering equipment to sugar mills in the province, suffered a little more than R2m in damages.
“It is extremely tough for most businesses who are still picking up the pieces since the unrest. As a business, we are operational again but we lost out on a week’s worth of work and disruption for a further three weeks due to the theft and arson. We have to make it work because this is our livelihood and we are all trying our best to do that. I acknowledge other businesses are also trying, but it is clear they need support and assistance from the government,” he said.
To date, the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria) has paid more than R5.8b in claims to businesses that suffered damages during the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
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