ESTCOURT, KwaZulu-Natal – A fresh wave of unrest has struck Estcourt’s central business district, where at least eight shops owned by foreign nationals were looted, with perpetrators making off with furniture, cellphones, clothing, footwear, and other merchandise. The incidents unfolded hours after the Pietermaritzburg High Court directed Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality mayor Mduduzi Myeza to return business keys seized from 38 foreign shop owners following anti-foreigner demonstrations in April.
Witnesses described crowds entering multiple premises in the early afternoon, ransacking inventory and leaving behind scattered goods. Footage from the scene revealed a damaged clothing store with mannequins standing amid discarded bag straps and shoes. Local observers noted that businesses owned by South African citizens in the vicinity appeared untouched, suggesting the violence specifically targeted foreign-operated enterprises.
The High Court ruling, issued one day prior to the looting, granted relief to the 38 applicants by ordering the immediate return of their confiscated keys and restoring their access to business premises. The judgment also placed restrictions on Mayor Myeza and his associates, prohibiting them from intimidating, harassing, or damaging property belonging to the applicants. Legal representatives acting for the mayor confirmed that the keys had been returned before the affected shops reopened on the morning of the attacks.
A legal representative for several of the foreign national business owners detailed the compounded hardship faced by the victims. “They have not been able to earn a living,” he explained, emphasizing that many of the shopkeepers support families with young children and have been established members of the Estcourt community for more than 20 years. He noted that beyond the immediate loss of stock and compromised security, the inability to pay rent during weeks of forced closure could trigger additional civil litigation against them.
The attorney stressed that all clients his office represents hold valid legal status to operate in South Africa. “Proper checks can take place after whatever order has been granted,” he asserted, calling for any verification processes to be conducted by authorized officials in accordance with established legal protocols.
While the court case centered on shops closed since the April protests, accounts from the ground indicate that some businesses which had continued operating during the interim were also among those attacked. This suggests the unrest extended beyond the specific establishments involved in the legal dispute.
At the time of observation, uniformed police officers were not visible in the affected zone, though private security personnel were deployed to monitor the area. Community leaders and business advocates voiced concern that without a visible law enforcement presence, further incidents of looting could occur.
Mayor Mduduzi Myeza has not yet released a public statement addressing the latest attacks. The Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality has been approached for comment regarding measures being implemented to safeguard businesses and uphold the High Court’s directive.
