Looting a disgrace in the nation or neighbourhood
Looting is usually a sign of a society in an advanced state of social decay, suggesting rising public desperation and a breakdown in law and order. It happens on a grand scale, as the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture is hearing, with daily revelations that are just beginning to scratch the surface of the massive fraud that has been perpetrated upon SA and its people. On a much smaller scale, but no less worrying, is the outbreak of looting of foreignowned shops in Soweto and other Gauteng townships. At least four people were left dead and foreign shopkeepers had to flee for their lives this week in scenes reminiscent of the explosion of xenophobic violence of May 2008.
Hardly a week goes by that there is not a report of South Africans attacking foreigners. Successful prosecutions are few, as police stand idly by, often doing little more than helping shop owners escape the wrath of the mob. It is a blight on a democratic SA.
Of course, the people carrying out the looting and attacks may well regard the culture of impunity when it comes to stealing taxpayer billions as their own free pass to take what is not rightfully theirs. But this cannot be an excuse for the rampage, which costs innocent lives. Nor is it an excuse that the looters were acting to punish foreign shop owners for selling “expired” food when, quite clearly, the food is going to be eaten, and not destroyed in protest.
Deputy President David Mabuza’s statement in parliament this week that locals should not attack foreign shop owners is to be welcomed, but his caveat that foreign business owners must be tax compliant is also worrying. Surely all business must be tax compliant? It’s a fudge. Mabuza and other top government figures must come out strongly with the message that xenophobia, irrespective of its justification, is not consistent with the standards set in our constitution, and that it will not be tolerated.
This would be more consistent with a society that prides itself on being a beacon of light when it comes to human rights.
Anything less is a retreat from the high standards we set ourselves.