While looters are still causing havoc and destruction in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng, there are already shortages of fuel and basic foodstuffs, such as bread and even medicines. The situation is expected to deepen. Many companies have closed up shop to prevent their businesses from being looted. Frustration is growing in communities in areas hard hit by the riots in Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal. Consumers are concerned as to where they would get their food. Consumer Specialist, Ina Wilken on Radio Islam’s ‘Your World Today’, said that the most basic commodities, such as bread and milk, maize meal, flour, meat, vegetables, tinned food, toilet paper, salt, sugar, washing powder will be what consumers struggle to find. She says this is as 35 trucks were set alight, so, nobody is able to transport anything, anywhere. Wilken said, “the way thy looted all the shops in Kwazulu-Natal, Mooi River, Pietermaritzburg, and Durban, there’s nothing left.” She added “And of course a few more here in Gauteng too, let’s hope it’s not going any further.”

Aside from the shortage of the immediate necessities that Wilken mentioned, she says the real devastation in the wake of the looting spree is yet to be felt. She said, “it’s going to get worse, because the trucks are just too scared to go on the road, because they don’t know what’s the next thing that’s going to happen to them.” She said that farmers are unable to send their produce to the markets, as even the markets have been ambushed, so, fresh produce is not available. Wilken said, “Food security, especially in the most affected parts of the country, is fast becoming a looming threat, so this is very, very bad news for consumers.”

With those rioting only likely to realize that they have shot themselves in the foot when instead of simply having to walk up the road to buy necessities from a nearby mall, they will now have to pay for transport to take them to malls, that are suburbs away, Wilken said that looters did not just steal food, they stole medical supplies, which people are in dire need of with the presence of COVID-19 going in the country, as well as electronics, so, “it just doesn’t make sense to us as consumers, what is going on in Natal, and why. I think government should perhaps relook at the policies over the last 18 months.” She said, “We are sitting with a rate of 32.7% of people who haven’t got work in this country. It’s a third of our people. So yes, of course they’re very hungry, they haven’t got money to buy food, but this is just the tip of the iceberg – we’re going to see much more, looting, because people are fed up.” Wilken added, “we must have an in-depth look at what is the real reason behind the unrest. She said, “It’s getting worse day by day, hour by hour, but what is government doing about this? Where is the army? I haven’t seen any, they are nowhere to be seen.” She said there are not enough policeman on the ground.

Wilken said that South Africa needed answers and that there must be reaction to what is going on in the country at this point in time.

Umm Muhammed Umar