Charred remains all that’s left
Protesters leave their mark as two small businesses in Durban were burnt to the ground on Monday, writes
THE smell of burnt rubber, tar and metal still linger in the air in Chris Hani (North Coast) Road, days after a protest led to destruction of property in the area. The mood is heavy and there is uncertainty about when, or if, the protesters-turned-arsonists returned and what would happen then.
Bekho Magwaza, who lives in Ward 34 at Sea Cow Lake, was one of the residents who marched on Chris Hani (North Coast) Road in the early hours of Monday as a result of discontent at the ANC candidates list. A hawker, he lost his stock and escaped the wrath of his fellow protesters when things turned violent.
“People started setting cars alight at Wind Motors and they broke into the premises of KZN Oils, a place where I keep my stock overnight,” he said.
According to Magwaza, when he saw cars burning near containers where he kept his stock, he pleaded with an angry mob to let him and other hawkers remove their belongings. The mob agreed, but things quickly turned sour.
“We decided to rather put out the fire because our containers have gas cylinders. We believed that if these cars continued to burn next to the cylinders which contain highly flammable material, not only was our stuff in danger, but our lives and many others’ were at risk.”
Magwaza did not anticipate what happened next. “People saw us put out fires and charged at us with knobkerries and other weapons, we ran for our lives. It was a highly volatile situation.”
He revealed cuts and bruises on his arms and hands. “I ran and climbed up a barbed wire fence. My hands were in pain but the fear of being beaten by the mob scared me more. My life was in danger.”
Magwaza is counting the loss and trying to repair his business. “I lost stock worth about R2 000. I lost a day’s income for Monday worth around R2 600 to R3 000. Business has not picked up since the violence. I have been selling half of what I sold previously.”
While trying to salvage what’s left of his business, he said the damage did not just affect him, but his whole family in Eshowe.
“I am the breadwinner. I work here because I support the family back home. Now I don’t know what money I’m going to send.
“I cannot be a street trader forever. I am working so hard to save money to build a shisa nyama one day. Now I have to go back to my savings and buy new stock, send money home and keep the business afloat until things get back to normal. I won’t be saving any money, I will be losing.”
“The biggest problem is we are scared because next time there is a protest, and I heard its not over, residents promised it would be worse.” Attacking a small business is attacking the economy because we are the biggest employers.”
A clean-up is in progress although there was nothing to salvage, but it is the financial impact of the fire and looting that worries Gounden.
“My biggest concerns are my monthly expenses, keeping the staff employed, getting assistance from the authorities for evidence and information for claims, and the time it will take to recover.”
Gounden has lodged a claim with the South African Special Risks Insurance Association, a state-owned company that covers damage during civil unrest because he is not covered for this kind of eventuality by his insurance.
He said his focus was to put his business back together. “I am not bitter, I understand that protests are part our democracy but the wanton destruction is alarming.
“I am still thankful that everything happened in the early hours so nobody died,” Gounden said.