Johannesburg - The building is blackened, stripped of its doors and windows, with gaping holes where they initially stood.
Broken glass from shattered windows litters the pavement and a pungent smell clings to the inside of the building.
In the aftermath of xenophobia, South African business owners in Jeppestown are at a loss.
At least two businesses owned by locals were looted and burnt down, leaving smouldering remnants of goods and belongings.
Situated next to the Wolhuter Road Hostel in Jeppestown, the two buildings were burnt and virtually destroyed during the violence that erupted last month.
Rasik Kanjee, 70, said he was a “born and bred South African” and couldn’t understand the “barbarism” of the xenophobic attacks.
“They stole everything, my chairs and my goods. They burnt the whole place down.”
Rasik said his metal doors and window panes were ripped out.
“I suspect it was all sold as scrap metal to dealers.”
The Kanjee family have owned property in Jeppestown for more than 50 years but are planning on selling the two buildings and leaving the area because there have been three break-ins over the past few months.
While transporting their goods for the sale, the xenophobic attacks erupted.
The buildings’ proximity to the hostel, where much of the violence took place, made it difficult to get to the building and stop the attacks.
“My uncle is semi-retired and we had been hoping to sell it, so we were clearing it out when xenophobia broke out,” said Rasik’s nephew, Hitesh Kanjee, whose neighbouring building was also looted and partially burnt down.
“We were called by a neighbour because one of the buildings had been set alight. When we came, it was all up in flames,” Rasik said.
Hitesh said the family’s buildings and goods could not be insured because they were situated in a high-risk area.
Hitesh believes the attacks on the property were opportunistic and not xenophobic.
Hitesh said he was concerned squatters would move in. The family have placed security guards outside.
“We’ve been concerned that squatters living in an informal camp next to the buildings will try to take it over. There are some who have been after it for years. But it’s not designed for accommodation.”
He said his uncle did not want to return to the area.
The Kanjees have opened a case with the police but remain distressed about the situation.
“There is nothing we can do. We can’t sell the buildings in the state that they are in and we don’t have the funds to fix the damage. This (xenophobia) is a setback for all of us as South Africans. We can’t allow people to think they can do what they want. It encourages lawlessness,” said Hitesh.
The Star