‘I’ve never, ever felt this kind of pain’
Ex-nurse feels let down by residents who failed to protect her shop
Thandi Johnson is in deep anguish after seeing her life’s work destroyed by the looting that ravaged her store in Diepkloof, Soweto, last week.
Johnson, who owns the TWJ Partyland shop at Diepkloof Square, said she is now facing R800,000 in damage after CCTV cameras, furniture, stock, shop fittings, equipment, a fridge and microwave were either stolen or damaged. Her store sells event and party supplies as well as arts and craft supplies and equipment.
“As we were walking towards the shop, I saw our stock just lying around metres from the shop. When I got to the shop, I couldn’t take it. Something just broke inside of me. I have never felt this kind of pain in my life,” said Johnson.
She said her financial concerns are money for a cleanup, new stock, equipment and refitting her shop. She also has loans she needs to pay that are financed by money she makes at the store and salaries for two employees.
“After realising that I will not be able to pay some of my commitments this month, I sent my bank an email and they have already turned me over to the legal department.
“We say that small businesses are the backbone of the economy, but there is no empathy for us,” she said.
Johnson said she is hurt that the people who looted her store are from the community she interacts with daily.
“I could feel the hatred of the people destroying our shops. What I asked myself was why did the people not take the stuff without destroying? It was just an act of hatred, heartlessness and insensitivity. “I would even help schoolchildren with their projects for free because I wanted them to know that we are not only here to take, that our relationship is a give-and-take. I established good relationships with people there. Where were the people when this was happening? The community stood together and they fought to protect Maponya Mall. It made me feel so not valued and unappreciated.”
The former nurse, 55, said she started her business in 2009 and it is not insured because she does not have extra money for insurance.
Johnson said her future feels bleak because she has put in all her money into her store,