WATCH: Looting in Umlazi supermarkets

Images and videos of looting incidents of Shoprite USave and Boxer supermarkets in Umlazi on Wednesday night have surfaced on social media. 

Looting of Maersk shipping containers was also reported on Monday. Police Minister Bheki Cele was urged to deal with the issue immediately. 

All this happens as people are trying to recover from the floods that wreaked havoc in the province. President Cyril Ramaphosa also visited affected areas and families to assess the damage on Wednesday. 

WATCH: LOOTING IN UMLAZI SHOPRITE USAVE

Both the supermarkets in J and H sections of Umlazi have been at the mercy of criminals for as long as they have been in the area. 

They were also amongst the first to be looted during the July unrest. 

ZIKALALA SAYS LAW AND ORDER WILL BE RESTORED

In a statement released on Tuesday night, KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala condemned reports of looting of the Maersk containers and trucks.

Zikalala said the authorities will work to ensure the restoration of law and order, amid the looting incidents.

“We also wish to condemn reports of the looting of containers which were affected by the rains as the raging Umlazi River threw them into the N2. We will not allow what is a tragic development in our province to be taken advantage of by criminals.

“Law enforcement agencies have been deployed and we call on all law enforcement agencies to ensure that all property is protected from criminality and that law and order is maintained during this period”

Sihle Zikalala

The Democratic Alliance also condemned the looting. The party called on Bheki Cele, to immediately intervene and ensure that SAPS in the province are on high alert and immediately clamp down on these incidents.

“These images are extremely disturbing. Especially since they are strongly reminiscent of the violence and looting that took place in the same province in July last year.”

Andrew Whitfield