Traders count the cost of looting

Cape Town. 150326. Seskhona Peoples Movement held a protest today but things turned nasty when they dispersed. Members bagan looting stalls as they left the City. Reporter Sandi. Pic COURTNEY AFRICA

Cape Town. 150326. Seskhona Peoples Movement held a protest today but things turned nasty when they dispersed. Members bagan looting stalls as they left the City. Reporter Sandi. Pic COURTNEY AFRICA

Published Mar 28, 2015

Share

Cape Town - City of Cape Town authorities are investigating how they can assist traders and shopkeepers who lost goods on Thursday when a group of 200 protesters broke away from a Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement service delivery march, and looted stalls in the CBD.

The protesters, part of a larger group who congregated outside the provincial legislature to protest service delivery in the townships, looted stalls in St George’s Mall and at the Cape Town train station after the protest broke up about 1pm.

On Friday deputy mayor Ian Neilson urged traders and shopkeepers who had “suffered damages or financial losses” to contact the office of the mayor.

They were asked to provide statements and proof of the damages.

Neilson said the city had not yet decided how it could help those who had suffered losses.

When asked if the city was considering financial compensation, he replied: “We are currently investigating to see how we can assist.”

He also asked people who had “visual evidence” that could help identify looters to contact the mayor’s office.

Traders said on Friday they would welcome any help from the city.

Admire Munyiki said looters made off with four of his paintings, which he sells for R600 each.

“That is a lot of money to lose in one day. I saved what I could so they didn’t take everything. It would be great if the city could help by reimbursing us.”

But he said he didn’t have proof of the theft, as he couldn’t take pictures while the looting was taking place.

Adjei Emadong said he lodged a complaint with the police after protesters stole a bag worth R750 and damaged his stall. “(The police) have opened a case and they gave me a picture of my damaged stall which they got from the CCTV cameras.”

Neilson said if the city found that municipal infrastructure had been damaged, it would pursue civil court action to recover these damages from the protest’s organisers.

Thursday’s looting was widely criticised, including by Ses’khona, which organised the march. The movement’s spokesman, Sithembele Majova, on Friday distanced the group from the looting.

As a human rights organisation, he said Ses’khona would not choose to infringe on the rights of others. He called on the Western Cape government to not “provoke” the protesters, saying that Premier Helen Zille should have addressed the crowds who assembled outside the provincial legislature.

But DA provincial leader Ivan Meyer condemned what he termed “ANC acts of pure criminality” and “thuggery”, saying he hoped that CCTV footage would help pinpoint the looters.

The ANC in the province also “condemns and distances” itself from the looting. Spokesman Cobus Grobler said the ANC was in no way responsible for the actions of “ill-disciplined individuals”.

He urged Ses’khona to “sort out their internal differences”, saying it had sent out “mixed messages” on Thursday. “The ANC is disappointed that... Ses’khona leader Andile Lili went on the attack against the ANC PWC members who were received well when they arrived at the protest,” said Grobler, adding that Lili had “incited some protesters”.

This appeared to be in reference to ANC leader Marius Fransman being booed when he tried to address the crowds.

Grobler said that despite “past tensions” between ANC and Ses’Khona, the party remained “committed to fight with Ses’Khona for better services and conditions for the poor”.

Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said a 26-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property following the march. Weekend Argus

Related Topics: