Despite clean-up work: No all-clear in South Africa

In South Africa, disillusionment has returned after the violent unrest and looting. Even when the clean-up work has started, isolated attacks still occur – and the consequences of the unrest are immense.

It’s like a nightmare that just doesn’t want to end – that’s how a passer-by put it in Vosloorus, a good 30 kilometers southeast of Johannesburg. Trucks pull up at the mall here to pick up the rubbish. Volunteers are busy in the parking lot sweeping up the remains of what was in the shops at the beginning of the week.

Khomoto is a young man who also helps. “We’re cleaning our place, there’s nothing wrong with it,” he says. “I’m not saying I didn’t take part in the looting.” Whether or not people help who have looted has nothing to do with it. “This is where we buy our groceries. If we as young people don’t take care of our things, then nobody will. We have to do that.”

Supply chains are breaking down

Clean-up work is also going on in Alexandra, a poor area in Johannesburg. The military is at the side of the people and also secures the one, last supermarket that is still intact. An elderly woman is standing in a long queue. “I hope I can get in before they close,” says the woman. “They’ll close soon. I want to buy cornmeal and soup meat.”

The opportunities to go shopping have diminished in their district. The delivery routes are also interrupted. Not only that the main logistical artery, the N3 motorway, is still closed. Goods do not come from the important port in Durban to the industrial center around Johannesburg in the usual way. In addition, warehouses have been destroyed.

Gerald Williams runs one of the largest warehouses in Kwazulu-Natal. It has been completely emptied, the walls and the ceiling are in ruins. “We only managed to secure our depot today. That is huge damage. Cars were set on fire and property was willfully damaged,” he says. “It’s bad and will cost a lot of money. But my biggest concern is that we were crucial to the supply chain in South Africa. Without our logistics, the province will collapse. We cannot deliver food or anything else to markets across the country . ”

The military should ensure calm

You can already feel that food is becoming scarce. Hamster purchases have started in the areas that are not affected by looting. Petrol is running out at gas stations. In Durban, for example, many petrol stations are not open at all. For the few that can still be approached, you need patience. Knowledge Khathi has just refueled and said: “I waited more than three hours. I came in at five in the morning and the fuel receipt says 10:35 am.

Soldiers secure the gas station in Durban – a sight that seems strange. 5000 of them are currently guarding logistically important locations, 25,000 reservists have also been called up. Today only a few lootings have been reported, so that South Africa can take a breath. The government wants to prevent everything from starting all over again. Because real calm and normality have not returned yet.