Cape Town’s defences held strong yesterday as two attempts at looting - at a Khayelitsha mall and a Usave supermarket in Stellenbosch - were thwarted by vigilant authorities and community members.
It was business as usual at most of the city’s shopping centres, but for the Golden Acre, which shut its doors for a few minutes.
However, this was due to a taxi violence-related incident at the nearby Cape Town taxi dank.
As mass unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng continued to rage yesterday, residents and business owners elsewhere in the country have been on edge, fearing the looting will spread.
The violence started the day after former president Jacob Zuma was arrested last Wednesday, but authorities say it is not about Zuma anymore as the riots are “well-orchestrated and aimed at destabilising the country and food security”.
The rampant looting and vandalism has left 72 people dead and 1234 arrested.
Yesterday, the city’s malls were on high alert again.
Cape Gate Shopping Centre wrote on their Facebook page: “Please note that we are open to trade and have temporarily amended our trading hours to 9am-5pm from 14 July due to safety concerns. Certain stores may be closed due to staffing and public transport issues...”
On Tuesday night, a Khayelitsha mall had to beef up security after youngsters armed with petrol stormed the locked gates.
Community members near Thembokwezi Square saw a group of laaities running towards the centre and immediately alerted the cops and CPF members.
CPF secretary Phindile George says they managed to catch the would-be looters.
“The residents’ quick thinking is the reason the mall is still standing, they told us about the incident on WhatsApp.
“Tuesday evening around 6pm, we were informed of young boys, there were about 40 of them, and they were seen running to the mall and they had petrol with them.
“They went to a field and when they saw us, they ran away and we managed to intercept them and take the fuel.”
George says they’re monitoring near the mall to prevent further incidents.
“The mall was open the whole day (yesterday) and we have not received any threats after that. We are here with the police and the neighbourhood watch members.”
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi says cops rushed to the scene but said no arrests were made as the suspects ran away.
A video made the rounds in the afternoon showing people fleeing from a group of boys in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, who apparently tried to loot a USave supermarket.
The footage shows a group forcing open a large shutter door.
Boewe target Usave supermarket in Stellenbosch. Video supplied
However, Swartbooi insists there was no looting: “There were boys who were running around trying to scare people but nothing was taken anywhere.”
Premier Alan Winde said a special joint cabinet and MAYCO meeting was to take place last night with the City of Cape Town, where security in the province, and ongoing taxi violence would be discussed.
Except for the Khayelitsha attempt, he said there’s been no looting in the Western Cape.
“I particularly want to thank all those volunteers who are actively patrolling to ensure that the Western Cape is safe,” he said/
Anyone with information of pre-planned criminal activities is urged to share with Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
UPDATE
Cavendish Square centre management said in a Facebook post that it will remain closed on Thursday: “As the situation in South Africa remains volatile, and in the best interest of our shoppers and tenants safety, we have been advised to close for trade, on Thursday 15 July.”