Nelson Mandela Bay taxi associations take stand against looting

Nelson Mandela Bay taxi owners and drivers stood alongside business owners at the City Hall on Wednesday morning to take a stand against threats to loot businesses in the metro.

Bay mayor Nqaba Bhanga, who addressed the crowd, said looting — which is causing mayhem in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng — would not be tolerated in the metro and called on the public to protect businesses in the city. 

“What we are doing, we are protecting our country, our women, our parents,” the mayor said.

“We have done it in Nelson Mandela [Bay].

“They are not going to come closer here.

“We’ll protect this city with you,” Bhanga said.

Shops in Kariega and parts of Gqeberha shut their doors on Wednesday morning after an unidentified man had reportedly gone door to door in Kariega, telling them to do so.

Nelson Mandela Bay regional taxi council general secretary Andile Andries said the man was wearing a police uniform and had pepper spray.

“As taxi drivers, we chased after the man and caught him.

“When the police arrived and we asked them who the man was they said he works as a car washer at the police station.

“This has caused great concern among us because we do not know where he got his information from,” Andries said.

The Shoprite in KwaNobuhle remained open though there were not many customers in the store.

Taxi associations continued mobilising their members to protect businesses in Kariega, KwaNobuhle and surrounding areas.

Uitenhage and District Taxi Association chair Mbuyiseli Mfengu said the associations wanted to show their support for the government, consumers and shop owners.

“We are making sure business does not grind to a halt, shops must stay open because job losses are common.”

Members of the SANDF were patrolling in Kariega and were also stationed outside the Greenacres Shopping Centre.

The Pier 14 Shopping Centre in North End was closed due to suspicious activity on Wednesday.

It understood a small group of people had acted suspiciously, raising fears that the mall might be hit by looters.

Bhanga was expected to brief the media later on partnerships that had been created by the city and other stakeholders to avert the riots and looting.

HeraldLIVE