VANDERBIJLPARK – This is after fear crept in on business owners having shops in town, leading to the closure of most if not all shops.
According to some shop owners, their decision to close businesses for the day is an act of avoiding looting.
The town is known for its vibrant feel, especially during lunchtime, but today, March 20, fewer taxis in the taxi rank, and people could be seen on the streets.
Speaking to Ster, Muhammed Yusuf said closing his store is a contingency plan to save his struggling business.
“I am recently struggling with business due to load-shedding and closing my store is a way of saving my crumbling business. When there are shutdowns, the first thing people think of is looting our stores,” he said.
“During the last looting, my business was badly affected, I cannot afford to have a second blow this time around,” he said.
Another shop owner Abdul Mohammed said he removed all cell phones in his store.
“I took all my stock [cellphones] on Sunday after work. There is fear not only from me but all businessmen in this town. Potential looting would have happened and losing our stock means struggling again for a very long time. We are not against the demonstration by the EFF, hence we would rather be safe,” he said.
