South African Citizens Loot Foreign-Owned Supermarket, Destroy ATM Machines In Durban Community 

Pretoria, South Africa– South African residents looted at least two supermarkets, vandalised ATM machines and ransacked businesses in KwaDabeka, Clermont, west of Durban, forcing the deployment of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) after widespread overnight unrest.

The development was made known in reports by SABC monitored by Afrika Eyes.

According to reports, at least two supermarkets and a dental practice were broken into during the overnight incidents, with goods, equipment and other valuables stolen as groups of people stormed through the shopping centre.

SANDF personnel were stationed at the shopping centre on Thursday morning following the attacks on businesses in the area, amid growing concerns over security and the scale of damage caused.

SABC News, reporting from the scene, described extensive destruction at Save More supermarket in KwaDabeka, one of the businesses badly affected by the looting.

The reporter said: “We are at the scene of a looting incident that transpired last night at the Save More in KwaDabeka in Clermont where several shops in the centre were looted overnight. I’m told that a dentist next door where we are stationed right now as well has also been hit as several people stormed through this particular centre in Clermont and looted several items.”

“Where we are right now, it is the supermarket that was severely hit with everything being taken.”

Mohammed Abdul, the store manager of Save More, recounted the incident and spoke about the extensive destruction left behind after the looters struck.

He said: “Thank you so much. You know what happened? It’s something which you can see the massive damage which as you are here by the store which people has been done.

“So yeah, I don’t know like what to describe but you can see whatever damage which happened.”

Abdul also spoke about the arrival of security personnel and SANDF members, saying intervention came after significant damage had already occurred.

“So they came late after when looting already happened,” he said.

“But by the first time when the shop has been not looted, the law enforcement came to us and said guys we are here to save for your life. We see a crowded of people they are around who are trying to do things wrong.

“They try to defend but it never happened. As you can see how massive they did.”

During the interview, Abdul was asked whether all businesses attacked at the shopping centre belonged to foreign nationals.

He replied: “No. This one was owned by foreign national who are legally by the country.

“And this is one of the main store which was around by this area who has been working 19 of local people. So and this was the only store which was doing a lot of service for the community.”

He further pointed to the level of destruction inflicted on facilities inside the premises.

“As you see now, there’s one of the ATM which they have already made damage.

“There are other safeties which they make damage.”

Abdul said the supermarket had also suffered a similar experience during the 2021 unrest and described the latest attack as a second major blow.

“No, it’s not the first time. Even it’s happened by 2021.

“There’s other looting by the first looting. So this is the second time. And the amount of damage it’s over millions.”

He added: “As you can see, it was the biggest store which was like the general store.

“They did break in and already took out the safety, which was inside by the ATM, as you can see.

“And there’s other safe which is there by the office, which they already make big damage.”

Asked what the future held after suffering losses running into millions, Abdul admitted uncertainty over what would happen next.

“Like really, I don’t know. For now, there’s nothing which I can say that we are going to do from now, but we will see,” he said.

He also noted that workers had gathered outside the premises after the attack.

“I see that people are outside also, some of the workers just trying to close and bolt. There were some of the workers who have been working here.”

SABC further reported that law enforcement and SANDF personnel were at the scene but could not stop the looting once it escalated.

The reporter stated: “Mohammed Abdul, the store manager of Save More here in KwaDakuza that was looted late last night, was saying to us that the South African National Defence Force were actually on scene with law enforcement. However, they could not stop what was happening, but rather told them to protect themselves and stay clear from trying to deter some of those individuals that broke into Save More.”

The journalist added that three businesses, including two shops and a dental practice, had been affected.

SABC said: “As it stands now, three shops were hit, two businesses, including a dentist.”

The reporter described the supermarket as a critical service provider to residents in the area.

“And I think what is a very sad part of this particular story is the fact that this is the only supermarket that serves hundreds of people here in KwaDakuza.”

The report added that residents and workers were left counting losses while uncertainty remains over recovery efforts.

The manager said the business had become a lifeline to many residents in Clermont and noted that losses from the latest incident were already running into millions.