Brave, prepared Sheppie community saves day
A member of the Port Shepstone community, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said information received on Monday, July 12 helped them save the town from destruction.
Port Shepstone was one of the few towns in the province to escape unharmed during the recent riots and looting.
But it was a very close call.
A member of the Port Shepstone community, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said information received on Monday, July 12 helped them save the town from destruction.
The source said they were informed early in the day that plans were afoot to loot and burn businesses, supermarkets, petrol stations, government buildings and infrastructure in Port Shepstone and nearby business areas.
Businessmen and ordinary citizens gathered at the Marburg intersection to ascertain whether the threat was real.
“We gathered with the Saps and told the police that we will assist them to prevent any crowd insurgence,” he said.
On Monday at about 08:30am, while standing guard, a huge crowd in excess of 1000 people were singing and chanting and was advancing along the N2 towards Marburg.
“The police went ahead and managed to persuade the crowd after about an hour to disperse.”
Since the threat was all too real the community set up roadblocks throughout Port Shepstone, Umtentweni, Shelly Beach, Izotsha and other surrounding areas and assisted the police in monitoring that no person with criminal intent to destroy our town entered.”
He explained the threat became reality when the Ma Afrika and Ugu buildings were looted and set alight before their eyes.
On Wednesday, the taxi association also joined the community in the monitoring.
The police made many arrests and seized lots of stolen property.
“We have been having constant meetings with both the Saps and the municipality to assess the threat on an ongoing basis.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the CBD was open only for essential food and fuel.
People from all over KZN came to Port Shepstone and Shelly Beach supermarkets to buy food and fuel.
Roadblocks have been in place each evening to assist the police in restricting the movement of non-essential persons in line with level 4 restrictions and with the ongoing threat.
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