“We are forced to brave the chilly winter night in our roofless homes to guard our remaining possessions from opportunists who are looking to benefit from our misery.”
That is how Jaia Govender, a resident of Sandfields in Tongaat on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, described life since a devastating tornado and storms tore through several parts of the province on Monday.
Seven of the 11 people who lost their lives were from the north coast area, and more than 1,200 people were displaced.
Mass care centres and schools were opened to accommodate families whose homes had been flattened or roofs torn off, but many discovered criminals had made off with appliances, furniture and other goods from their unprotected properties.
“There are always opportunists who are waiting for any chance to loot people’s hard work and their ‘work’ is made easier by the darkness since we don’t have any electricity now. There is still stuff that can be salvaged, I just found my toolbox,” said Govender.
Criminals were reported to be operating in Magwaveni, Fairbreeeze, Sea Tides, Newtown and Sandfields.
Somandla Mthembu from Newtown said the criminal activity was committed by vagrants who “lack ubuntu”.
He said they decided to leave the safety and warmth of the shelters and return to their homes. There they keep warm by lighting fires while watching for criminal elements.
“It’s not just our belongings, we have to also guard the electricity cables and anything that might have copper, because they sell it and we are the ones who will suffer in the end. We are all suffering, especially at this time when we’ve lost all our life's work. So they can’t even use poverty as an excuse — these people just have no ubuntu.”
Private security companies have deployed additional manpower as they patrol the affected areas in the town, especially at night.
Shaun Moodley, ADT branch manager, said the criminals had more luck on the first night after the tornado hit because most people had left, but they are winning in reversing that situation together with the residents.
“From a security point of view, we have deployed more resources during the night to keep whatever is saved, safe. It’s not a syndicate operation so there’s no sort of modus operandi — it’s just the paras. We just want to assist the community in their time of need.”
Slindile Khuzwayo, who manages Newtown Hall, said the hall houses more than 600 people, but as of Tuesday only 60 people slept over. Some residents are scared to leave their premises and chose to stay at their devastated homes overnight to protect their belongings that are left.
“That is why people are not comfortable to sleep in the halls, it’s a similar story in other halls as well. We have raised it with businessmen who visited us yesterday that if they can get us sails, like those that cover tents, people can put them on their roofs as a temporary structure, because what if rain falls at night?” Khuzwayo said.
“Right now they are using whatever blankets we give them. They sit in camps and build fires, that’s all they have.”
Tongaat Ratepayer's Association chair Jay Lovey Govender said she was “bewildered” to hear reports from residents of theft and looting of their possessions.
“You try to understand why people would do this to people who have nothing left but broken homes. You think maybe it is the work of those who are desperate themselves, but is totally unacceptable.”
On Tuesday, national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola, who deployed 300 additional Public Order Policing members to KwaZulu-Natal, said some would be sent to Tongaat area. This was to assist with safety and security of those who are affected by the disaster.
Govender said she had heard police had been deployed to the area, but she hadn't seen an increased visible police presence on Wednesday.
