WATCH: Business owners count their losses after protest
ZANDSPRUIT – Violent protesters vandalised shops at the Zandspruit shopping complex.
Enough is enough, said infuriated business owners who have lost stock worth millions of rand during the violent protests in the Zandspruit Informal Settlement.
Some business owners said they are now forced to leave their businesses in the Zandspruit Shopping Centre. Butchery owner, Stanley Pedro, said he lost R2,5 million worth of stock when violent protesters ransacked his shop on the evening of 16 March. Two cars were torched, several businesses ransacked and lots of stock were stolen from the shops at the centre when the strike intensified.
“They attacked my staff members, took my safe and destroyed my fridges,” he explained.
He said that he could not continue operating his business in the area.
“I am feeding them. I brought the shop close to them and when they strike, they destroy my business. It would have been better if they just stole, but they destroy everything,” he complained.
He blamed the government for instructing Eskom to switch off the electricity grid in the area. “I have paid my bills but they cut off my electricity since Monday, but the people still have electricity inside the settlement. I don’t know how they got that,” he said.
He concluded that the protest could be compared to ‘mass destruction’ and should serve as a call for the government to intervene. “They should give the police more power even if they have to use live ammunition,” he said.
Liquor shop owner, Reon de Reuck, insisted that he would continue to operate his business in the centre. “I have been operating here for 10 years. There are good people in the informal settlement, only a few are criminals who just wanted to loot and steal from our staff,” he said.
A furniture shop owner, Amos Patel, who pays R35 000 rent per month could only gather the little he could recover and left the centre. “I just bought new bicycles, all of them are gone,” he said.
He said they stole stoves, fridges, beds and speakers. “They cleaned me out,” he said.
Gauteng Provincial Police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela advised motorists to use alternative routes although the Road was partially opened.
Police are monitoring the area and the situation appeared calm today. “Yesterday we arrested one suspect. So far 12 people have been arrested for public violence, malicious damage to property and business burglary,” he said.
Details: Gauteng Provincial Police, 079 522 4245.
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