Ladysmith GazetteLocal newsNews
Ladysmith KZN: Mayor visits plundered Ezakheni Plaza after violent looting
Over 30 businesses were destroyed
Alfred Duma Local Municipality Mayor Vincent Madlala visited the Ezakheni Plaza earlier today (July 15). Mayor Madlala was saddened by the state the shopping centre was in after all the shops were looted and some even set on fire.
In an interview with the mayor at the Ezakheni Plaza, he said that the mall was built in 2013 and was officially opened by himself… and “what I see today is unacceptable”.
Over 30 businesses were destroyed and everything looted from all the shops. One of the businesses had R5 million worth of stock and had a large amount stolen from the store. Security guards said it was a massive mob and they couldn’t do anything to stop them when the looting started.
Council has strongly condemned the criminal behaviour of community members who have looted shops in the town.
According to a press release by Alfred Duma Local Municipality…
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“Notwithstanding the constitutional right of people to strike and the plight faced by the unemployed, the looting of shops cannot be justified. We are disturbed by the criminal activity. These are purely criminal deeds and they can never be tolerated.
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“More significantly, the current situation has crippled our small and emerging businesses. Hawkers cannot operate, and our fellow sisters and brothers in the taxi industry stand to lose their vehicles due to repossession by banks.
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“Workers are losing work because industries and places of work are not operational and are being looted, most dominantly the Defy factory in the Pieters Industrial Area. Enough is enough!
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“We are appealing for calm in all areas within Ladysmith, as all this wrong-doing is badly affecting our normal life and we are suffering economically.
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“We are appealing for co-operation and co-ordination with all stakeholders to save our town and the little that remains of what we have already lost. Let’s all comply with safety and security measures in place to protect our shops and malls.”
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