DURBAN - POLICE Minister Bheki Cele urged communities in KwaZulu-Natal, especially in Durban, to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, saying this had sparked racial tensions.
This follows reports that some community members, acting to protect their properties, had started attacking other racial groups alleging that they were responsible for the damage or theft of their belongings.
Authorities have reported several racially motivated attacks in areas such as Phoenix, Chatsworth and parts of Pietermaritzburg.
The scramble for food and other household items has allegedly triggered racial tensions in different parts of KZN, with claims that some stores were turning away black customers.
Cele was speaking during the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster media briefing yesterday, on the containment of looting taking place in some parts of the country.
Communities in areas such as Phoenix, Durban North, Bluff, eManzimtoti and Westville took it upon themselves to protect shopping centres and outlets.
In Phoenix, the community spent the whole night keeping vigil at the Phoenix Plaza as looters had made several attempts to gain entry. As a result, a number of people were injured and some lost their lives.
Cele said communities should work with the police to protect their properties and lives.
“Don’t go beyond and create parallel structures. It must be avoided at all costs that this becomes a racial war. There are incidents that are really worrying, especially around Durban communities such as Phoenix, and Inanda,” he said.
A Phoenix resident, who asked not to be named, said the community was armed and ready to protect the Phoenix Plaza and their property.
“They want to loot the mall, and we don’t want that. We spent the whole night patrolling the area. Yes people have been killed, after they tried to loot the mall and other shops, and they are also attacking us and want to loot our homes,” said a resident.
A resident from Inanda, who admitted to being a part of the looting mob, accused the Phoenix community of attacking them when their only intention was to loot the shops.
“They killed our brothers, smashed passing vehicles and also torched a taxi. Sooner or later communities from Inanda, KwaMashu, Ntuzuma, and Lindelani are going to make their way to Phoenix, and it’s not going to end well,” he said.
Cele urged communities to not become involved in racial tensions.
“We are calling on those communities to come together to fight any form of criminality, working together with the police.
“They should do so not against the faces or groups of people, but against criminality,” he said.
KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni also warned against growing racial tensions in the province.
Nkonyeni warned that this “repulsive behaviour” would further divide the province at a time when it should be uniting in the fight against the serious acts of looting, destruction of property and vandalism of infrastructure.
Pietermaritzburg leadership yesterday also warned against the fuelling of racial tensions in the city after a video circulating on social media showed the Northdale community cheering as a fire ravaged a nearby informal settlement.
Msunduzi Municipality deputy mayor Manilal Inderjit said that while he had not seen the video he had been alerted to the fire that gutted the settlement on Monday.
“My understanding is that the fire was not deliberately started by anyone, but if an investigation should establish that there was a criminal element, those responsible should be made to face the full might of the law,” said Inderjit, adding that the settlement was known to experience fires often.
Another leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said while there was no evidence that community members had started the fire, the fact that they were cheering was a cause for concern.
THE MERCURY