Clermont township in Durban witnessed a wave of overnight looting that targeted several foreign-owned businesses following the demonstrations on June 30. The upheaval began late Monday night as crowds reportedly smashed into shops and made off with merchandise.
A prominent victim was the Superseven shop in KwaDabeka, Clermont, known to locals as the enterprise of a Somali national. Eyewitnesses told Eyewitness News that the looting started soon after police left the area.
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Looting in Durban Clermont Devastates Foreign-Owned Shops
The looting spree in Durban Clermont extended to various foreign-owned outlets, leading to stores being emptied of their inventories. The Clermont Community Policing Forum noted that law enforcement struggled to control the rapidly escalating chaos.
This took place despite the South African Police Service having allocated R600 million to enhance security before and after the June 30 demonstrations. Similar looting incidents were also reported in Mariannridge and Hammarsdale.
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Sizwe Goge, chairperson of the Clermont Community Policing Forum, commented that police faced significant challenges in regaining control once looting commenced.
“The police were often overwhelmed, to say the least. Additionally, many stores had security firms stationed outside, but even those were overtaken by the mobs.”
Durban Clermont Looting Results in Shop Being Cleared Out
The looting in Durban Clermont left the KwaDabeka Superseven store nearly empty, with reports indicating that looters took all available food items. They also tried to force open an ATM within the store but were unsuccessful.
Residents have expressed their concerns regarding the devastation, stating that the violence will have enduring consequences on the local community and their access to essential goods.
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The looting in Durban Clermont has brought disappointment among residents, who believe that the violence has ultimately harmed their own community.
Elderly resident Nongcebo Ngcobo shared her thoughts, indicating that the destruction would have widespread implications.
“We are deeply pained as the community of Clermont because we are pushing away those who have greatly assisted us. We used to come in the mornings to buy food for our children before school, but now we are at a loss. What the community has done is very wrong!”
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In response to the unrest, additional police personnel and members of the South African National Defence Force have been deployed to Clermont to bolster security and prevent future occurrences.
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