Organised Business
◆ Businesses owners believe that the attacks were not sporadic but well-planned.
◆ The attack on retail centres was an attack on the “last mile” of food and goods supply chain distribution.
◆ The attack on warehouses was an attack on primary bulk infrastructure and cargo for national distribution.
◆ The threatened attack on major Transnet infrastructure essentially closed the supply chain.
◆ The attacks on trucks included microchips that track electronic systems in trucks being destroyed, making it impossible to repair them. The modus operandi demonstrated planning, with groups destroying CCTV cameras and sophisticated fire-fighting equipment, turning some warehouses that stored chemicals into virtual fire-bombs.
◆ Businesses believe the response by the State had been inadequate because the State had demonstrated vulnerability and indecisiveness.
◆ Security personnel were reactive, slow and not trained for crowd control.
◆ The riots affected investor confidence and showed lack of cohesive government response, even three months later, making it difficult to explain to shareholders and investors what happened.
◆ The government’s unwillingness to take responsibility and be held accountable was further eroding investor confidence.
◆ Businesses had to rely on private security providers to secure their properties and members of the community to protect their businesses, but the damage was still extensive.
◆ Business owners believe the violence exposed the underbelly of poverty and inequality in South Africa.
◆ Businesses feel that they should be briefed on what action is being taken to identify perpetrators of the violence and bring them to book.
◆ They also believe that strategic distribution centres such as fuel pipelines, water treatment plants and specific chemical facilities must be allocated national key point status.
◆ Businesses also want President Cyril Ramaphosa to assure investors that the government is acting to address weaknesses in the country’s security, law and order and intelligence systems.