City counts cost of looting damage

A Wimpy staff member cleans up after looters ran amok in St Georges Mall.

A Wimpy staff member cleans up after looters ran amok in St Georges Mall.

Published Mar 27, 2015

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Cape Town - The City of Cape Town on Friday said it was considering options following Thursday’s “violence and looting” by the Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement in the city centre.

“We condemn the violence and looting that accompanied Ses’khona’s march and are assessing any damage to public infrastructure. We will pursue civil court action to recover these damages from the organisers,” said Deputy Mayor Ian Nielson.

The City granted permission for Thursday’s march after organisers guaranteed it would remain peaceful. However, at the end of the march some protesters ran into St George’s Mall, allegedly looting and harassing traders and eatery patrons.

The march was dispersed by riot police but, according to an eyewitness, they arrived “a little too late”.

An informal trader and Wimpy management reported having been targeted by the protesters.

The City reported additional disruption including the “overturning of bins and flower-pots, interfering with members of the public and looting the stalls of several informal traders”.

Once dispersed from St George’s Mall, police escorted protesters to a heavily-guarded Cape Town train station.

“Some turnstiles were damaged as well as the window of a large retailer,” said Nielson.

The City would now consider the role it could play in assisting victims of looting and possible prevention methods against protester unruliness.

As part of their assessment, Nielson requested any “visual evidence identifying the culprits” to be submitted to the office of the Executive Mayor.

“Anyone who suffered damages or financial losses as a result of the actions of the protesters is also invited to provide proof of the damages and accompanying statements of the events as they unfolded,” he said.

Nielson said the City would review comments made by march organisers leading up to the protest to assess threats of violence.

“The City respects and supports the right of organisations to march or stage protest action, provided this is done in a lawful and orderly manner. However, we cannot tolerate any threats to the safety and well-being of the public at large,” he added.

African News Agency

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