Despondent business owners in the south of Durban feel extremely let down by government and law enforcement after they failed to protect them, their employees and businesses from rampaging looters who the left the Isipingo CBD as “nothing but a ghost town”. This was a sentiment expressed by the Chairman of Isipingo Business Forum, Junaid Iqbal, following the week of devastating unrest which left the town looted and destroyed.
Speaking to the Southern Star, Iqbal said the people and business owners in Isipingo were deserted and left in the hands of merciless criminals. “Our businesses and our town were ravaged. Criminals looted and then torched our businesses thereafter. Isipingo is now a ghost town. The losses we have experienced is monumental especially business owners. How do we recover from this without help?” As the clean-up operation in the area commenced, Iqbal said it has been challenging every step of the way. Isipingo Rail, the Central Business District, Isipingo Hills, Orient Hills and Lotus Park, were hard hit by the invasion of scores of rioters. “They unleashed violence and went on a rampage. The destruction was widespread. They spared almost nothing with just one business surviving the brutal attack. As we are trying to clean up, the onus is now on business owners to manage on their own. Once again when we appealed to the municipality, we were blindsided. We have been through such an ordeal and there is no mercy for the community of Isipingo,” said Iqbal.
Community members took to the streets to try to clean up the debris in the town that has been left desolate. “People are trying to hang in there and have hope. They are trying to look to a brighter and better Isipingo but right now business owners are in an enormous fix. My shop was razed to the ground. I, just like many of the business owners, could do nothing to save my property.” The business owner said they watched in helplessness and horror as their livelihoods burnt to the ground and looters ran off with their goods. “Now as we strive to rebuild, we need funds. We need the government to reach out to small business owners and the private sector and help us to survive this disaster. Jobs have been lost. Help us to help our employees who now face a bleak future too.” Isipingo and eThekwini Outer South Cluster Chairperson, Aidan David, echoed Iqbal’s sentiments that the government structures did indeed fail the people of Isipingo. “It was the community of Isipingo that took the initiative to save their families, homes and neighbourhood. The police and army were not there when we needed them. Our people cried out for help. Their cries literally fell on deaf ears when telephone calls to the powers that be were unanswered.”
David said they are now in the process of rebuilding despite the catastrophic losses the town had to bear. “This time of restoration is a unification process for our community. There has been much suffering and the people are seething with anger but we cannot react in hate now. We must use our energy to heal and build.” He commend the communities within the Isipingo precinct including Isipingo Rail, Hills, Beach, Lotus Park and Orient Hills for standing strong and defending their homes. “You are all heroes for doing what the police and army did not do. Communities showed their strength and determination and in the coming days they must not lose that united fighting spirit. As a community, we have survived the storm. We now need to prepare ourselves to be ready for any further attacks. We must ensure that there are structures in place that will protect our families, homes and businesses,” David added.
