The riots at Thohoyandou CBD last week might have come and gone, but not without a cost as many hawkers lost thousands in terms of damage and stock.

One unlucky businessman is Mr Ayub Madina (37) of the Madina Group in Thohoyandou. Madina claims to have lost in excess of R100 000 at four of his businesses.

Madina said he had to watch helplessly when a rioting mob looted and damaged his stock at his business. He said much structural damage had been caused to his build-ings as windows were broken as he and his staff were manhandled.

“Government is doing nothing to protect law-abiding residents of this country. We are running legitimate businesses in this town and we are contributing to the economic growth of this town,” he said.

Madina said police are to blame for all this mess as he tried to call them to come and assist, but they never pitched up. He said he told one police officer to at least scare the mob from his shop but he refused, saying they were only assigned to guard municipal officials.

He also blamed the police for bringing insufficient manpower, knowing well that there could be some eventualities. “This is disgusting. How they could safeguard officials who are destroying people’s lives? We are sick and tired of the lazy police; they must assist the community,” he said.

“How are we expected to have faith in these useless people who are of no service to the community? We are always told to forge partnerships with police but this seems not to work at all,” he said. He also blamed the municipality for provoking street vendors for no reason. “We know it is illegal to trade at areas not meant for trade, but the municipality has let this go on for a long time. How do they expect people who have been making a living by selling at this place to respond? The place has become a source of their livelihood, and chasing them away is like a death sentence for them,” he said.

Madina said the municipality was creating animosity between shopkeepers and hawkers. “Firstly, they did not consult us as businesspeople about their intended move, which creates an impression that we are in collusion with the municipality that we do not want hawkers next to our businesses. This is not the case as we have been trading with them for a long time and we cannot chase them away to go and starve,” he said.

He said the municipality should come with an alternative to the present state of trading in town. “Look we did not work the whole day and this means no income for us. We have lost thousands in damages and business, and who is supposed to reimburse us?” he said. Madina said he would seek the legal route.

Damage and losses worth millions of rands were caused to businesses when the local Thulamela campaign to rid the town of illegal trading went awry. Incensed by the municipality’s ac-tions, the enraged vendors went berserk, wreaking havoc and leaving tons of garbage in their wake. The nasty incident happened on Tuesday last week. The operation started at about 11:00 when municipal officials accompanied by traffic police and members of the SAPS descended on the town with their trucks at the ready. Unli-censed stalls were removed whilst stock was confiscated.

The operation sparked riots and the whole Thohoyandou Town resembled a war zone, with garbage and broken windows everywhere. The operation had progressed to the middle of the town when shoppers who had mobilized the vendors started singing songs and insulting the of-ficials.

The real drama unfolded when officials reached the central post office. All hell broke lose when the mob started throwing garbage on the streets. There was fire and litter all over the town within minutes, with rioters running sporadic battles with police.

Police allegedly used rubber bullets to disperse the mobs that went on the rampage, breaking into shops and throwing stones everywhere,

Businesses came to a standstill, with licensed vendors and shopkeepers fearing for their lives and looting in their shops.

Scores of rioters were arrested while others were injured during the course of the day

An amicable solution has been found between the municipality and the hawkers. This week, all was back to normal with hawkers back at their stalls while the municipality continues talks with the leadership of the hawkers.