Kuyga residents torch cars, loot shops in rampage

HUNDREDS of Kuyga residents took to the streets yesterday, looting shops, burning tyres, throwing bricks and torching vehicles over housing and electricity issues.

The chaos erupted at about 1am with residents torching four vehicles parked inside the premises of Dacmac Logistics in King Road, Greenbushes. Residents used fire extinguishers to break down a concrete boundary wall to get inside. Windows and sliding doors were smashed. Dacmac Logistics owner Dirk Coetzee said the company had been operating in Greenbushes for the past four years.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before. It is very sad.”

He said the vehicles belonged to staff members. “They are driving trucks around the country. We have people employed at the company from that community.”

At least two spaza shops were later looted by residents.

Nelson Mandela Bay human settlements political head Nqaba Bhanga condemned the violence.

“It is unfortunate. How do you justify the destruction of property just because you are angry? The housing shortage not only affects us. It is a national problem,” he said.

Earlier, police and residents were in a tense standoff for most of the morning after residents blocked all roads leading into the Kuyga township.

Eventually, police managed to disperse the protesters at about 9am by firing rubber bullets in Cape Road. But the protest erupted again about half an hour later.

One protester, who did not want to be named, said: “Protesting is the only language the government understands.”

Police said no one had been arrested.