DA calls on the KZN premier to act swiftly against illegal groupings disturbing the rebuilding of KZN

1 August 2021

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal today calls on Premier Sihle Zikalala to immediately investigate the allegations of illegal groupings starting to intimidate businesses across the province, following the week of the ANC political unrest.

The DA is informed that one of these mafia-style organisations who are allegedly threatening businesses at the Ithala Centre in KwaMashu, Durban, and other affected areas in the province. KwaMashu was of one the worst hits areas with no shopping centres spared. Currently, local residents are unable to shop anywhere in the township.

The province of KwaZulu-Natal witnessed 5 days of absolute anarchy, with death and destruction. With effective intelligence measures, this could have been avoided or at least reduced. As the state failed, the DA will now pass on its intelligence to assist the premier.

It is alleged that stores like Shoprite supermarket have restored their premises at the Ithala Centre and are ready to open to serve the community. The problem is the mafia-style so-called forums that are allegedly stopping the supermarket from opening because they do not want to allow members of the Indian community to work in the store or the centre.

It further appears that one of the local Muslim doctors operating in KwaMashu has also been allegedly threatened that only black doctors will be allowed to operate in the community.

Word on the street is also emerging that these mafia-style groupings are demanding that unless they are included financially in the rebuilding of the destroyed shops and centres, they will stop all construction.

This type of criminal and racist intimidation is unacceptable and should be stopped in its tracks. The Premier is aware of this, as it is not the first time that it has raised its ugly head in the construction industry, where he failed to address the matter.

If the Premier is sincere about rebuilding the province, then he needs to act now on these thugs. If the premier fails to address this criminal and racist behaviour, it can be assume that this behaviour is part of his radical economic transformation agenda.

Issued by Francois Rodgers, DA KZN Leader, 1 August 2021