Cape Town - Despite beefed up security, customers were too scared to eat at their usual spots at the Kromboom Convenience Centre at the weekend after an explosion on Thursday night.
A VW Golf caught fire at about 11.15pm in Belgravia Road, outside Belgravia Autos, and the businesses at the Kromboom Road centre were attacked about 10 minutes later. The stores are a few minutes walk from each other.
Debris left over from the blast still litters the lower levels.
“Lights are hanging from the outside ceiling, tiles are broken and falling off the walls, there’s a hole in the concrete - it’s a nightmare,” said centre manager Shoukat Osman on Sunday.
“It may look bad, but it’s probably safer than before the bombing, with additional security keeping a close watch on the centre while the affected stores are closed off with temporary glass.
“It’s difficult to keep tenants and customers feeling secure after the mysterious attack.
“People are a bit scared to come to the centre,” Osman said. “We could see over the weekend it was quiet. People come just to see the damage. They drive in and drive out but don’t buy anything.”
He said there were no “satisfying theories” on the motive for the attack, as the shops hit had all been good tenants - none had a connection with the car dealership in Athlone which was also hit that night.
“This was a very strange incident,” he said. “We are trying to fathom why they would hit the car dealer and then a centre. They sell cars, we sell food - there’s no link between them.”
On Monday morning, business owners are expected to count the cost of the damage caused by the bomb. Good Fello’s Fish & Chips and Vee’s Video were worst affected. Woolworths had two broken windows.
The Hawks are investigating the crime. Spokesman Paul Ramaloko did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday.
Cape Argus