Durban in shutdown today

[Dave A]

Coming into work this morning in Durban, the roads were as quiet as the first few days of lockdown early April 2020.

Amazing how nearly everyone decided that today is a good day to stay at home.

My staff calling in are all saying nothing is moving and it looks too risky to travel.
I reckon a lot of businesses are going to be closed. I certainly don't expect any of my service teams to be doing any work today.

To be plain, what I am seeing is not sympathy for the cause of Jacob Zuma, but fear.
Frustrating that the call to shut down KZN is succeeding by the look of things. But it is.

[ians]

It was like that yesterday afternoon ... I got a message to head home in the morning ... but decided to stay at work ... at 5 pm when I drove home the roads were quiet.

I can hear the freeway from my house ... not one truck since early this morning ... a few cars ... but as you mentioned it reminds me of the early days of lockdown ... what a pleasure to get out and get stuff done without all the traffic.

[Blurock]

Durban and PMB are burning. JHB is burning. Reported more than R100m of damage caused in KZN. Trucks burned on the N3 This is orchestrated terrorism and should be treated as such. Or do we have to wait until this terrorism escalates as it did in Northern Mozambique?
Where are the security forces? Where is their intelligence? Surely someone is instigating this violence. Why were they not prepared for this?

This proves that this dysfunctional government is unable to protect its citizens. So how can they even think of banning guns for self-protection?

[Dave A]

Just watched the Caltex Garage near to my office get looted. Plain theft. Nothing more or less.

Marshall Security turned up en masse real quick (like two minutes) and put a stop to it.
An hour later and still no sign of police.
Something of a stand-off between the garage owner and some vultures sitting on the railway line opposite waiting for a chance at a second bite.

[adrianh]

The looting looks like a warzone

https://www.iol.co.za/news/looters-strip-springfield-value-centre-in-durban-other-malls-shut-their-doors-28cd7622-be6c-483d-9821-39d01483d774

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr...3-8f378a149d5b

[ians]

All I see is shyte loads of work for us ... as the buildings burn so the demand for tradesmen increases

A well executed plan ... it is clever the way they put fear into the people ... making them sitting ducks at home ... who are sitting at home wishing they hadnt handed in their firearms ... like a hand gun is going to help

With everyone sitting at home ... messages are being shared like wild fire ... that you should barricade your house make a safe room and board up the windows ... the roads and cities are empty creating easy targets for the looters ... they are having an absolute field day.

Insurance companies are smiling all the way to the bank as riot cover is being requested for vehicles and property ... no riot cover no insurance ... so for those who think shame poor insurance companies ... I am sure they will find a clause.

[adrianh]

The president is going to talk about the violence on National Media at 20:00 this evening.

[ians]

The reality is phase 1 ... create a food shortage ... is already in play.

All the major food suppliers are closed around our area ... I drove 10 km and no one store open.

There are small corner cafes open ... by lunch time they will be empty.

Something else I noted on my trip ... petrol stations ... most are closed but the ones which are open have que over km long ... by the end of today all those garages will be empty.

I suppose once all the stores have been looted and empty ... phase 2 will kick in ... water supply.

[Annetta]

Yes here too. Vehicles lining up for fuel and our local Woolworths was very busy for a Tuesday morning. My husband's company has grounded their fleet of 50 vehicles until situation improves. We are hoping more than 2500 soldiers will be deployed.

[Blurock]

DBN North community stood together last night with security companies to keep looters and terrs out of our suburbs. Roads were blocked off and thanks to the vigilance of these guys we were safe and would be looters turned around.

This morning SAPS LT Col Lombaard closed all shops to prevent these unwanted elements to come shopping or filling up fuel in our areas. Reported that many arrests were made for unlicensed arms and unregistered vehicles. He wants the roads to be open for emergency vehicles to move freely if required. Asked for patience for a day or two and arranged for WhatsApp and on-line orders from shops. Took full responsibility for his actions.

Well Sir, you have my support. At least you are looking after your community and are not absent like most of government.

[adrianh]

A whole lot of them gathered at the Macro in Montague Gardens, Cape Town. The Macro has been shut down and the area is flooded with cops.

[New Perspective studio]

It's bad we have only seen the Videos of the chaos that was going on in your guy's provinces. We are in East London attempts were also made, but much fewer in number, and they were routed. Though businesses did close and roads were also empty so there was an impact here too, much less though for now.

Most of those looters are just taking an opportunity created by a small select few who do have a political motive to instigate. It's sad how easy it is to manipulate the masses.

Anyway, I hope things get better for you guys in the hot spots, for some odd reason I do have a little faith in the Army when it comes to handling our own people, maybe it's because of how they handled the deployment on our first lockdown. I felt they actually did a good job there.

[JohnW1234]

Hi all

I'm from the US. I've been following what's happening in South Africa for a while. I'm something of an inventor and I wanted to let you know of an idea I had. I worked in mining and we would blow off equipment with a high pressure air hose. The material we processed was very fine. With no wind the material blown off equipment would spread out and fill the entire valley we were in. I know it's hard to get ammunition right now but if you can find a working portable air compressor (maybe even a leaf blower could do it not sure) and some fine material such as chalk powder I think you can blind a large mob. The dust can also act as a carrier for other things as well such as powdered hot peppers. It should discourage any crowd.

[Blurock]

It is heart warming to see that communities are banding together to protect their and other properties and not allowing looting in their suburbs.
I salute you brave people!

[tec0]

hi everyone,

i a bit off topic.

i got a tears in my eyes yesterday when i saw our community pulled together in ways that history should record and protected each other in ways that i can only describe as truly humbling.

Everyone worked tirelessly to protect each other and for now we have peace.

It truly was epic.

Thought i leave it here today. Was a wonderful thing to experience.