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'The skollies did it...'
16/05/2006 23:15 - (SA)
Editorial team , Die Burger
Cape Town - "We did not go on a rampage - those were skollies who did it. They are blaming the wrong people," says a security guard who took part in a march to parliament that turned violent.
The march to hand in a memorandum turned into a frenzy of vandalism with people running through the streets, breaking windows, damaging cars and robbing shops.
Shopkeepers who were affected by the vandalism said security guards had a right to strike, but not in a way that was damaging their own cause and other people's property.
Shop owners in Plein Street said they were battling to keep their businesses afloat and some of them were ready to quit.
Bill Herbert, 82, of Dante Restaurant and Coffee Shop, confirmed that about R20 000 damage had been done to his shop.
Large window panes and the glass of a cool-drink fridge were shattered.
His six employees fled to the kitchen with some of the goods and locked themselves in.
'Acting like skollies'
"The government must step in. Ordinary people cannot take up arms," he said.
"It's understandable that security gaurds want more money, but animals act more civilly.
"They are supposed to protect the people, but they act like skollies. Would you like them to protect your property?"
Ebrahim Laher complained that police ran away instead of protecting his property after strikers had damaged his mother-in-law's car in Plein Street.
Sharon Nash of Connex Travel Agency said they had locked their gates just in time.
Strikers armed with sticks, sjamboks and bricks tried to kick in the windows.
A doctor's consulting rooms also were damaged, and staff at a new coffee shop in Spin Street described the vandalism as "frightening".
Amanda Lan of Primal Needs said she was ready to quit after only six months.
Her shop displayed the clothes and jewellery of six designers, including those from township projects.
Strikers broke the shop windows, causing about R10 000 damage and ran away with jewellery.
Filipe de Abreu, 45, of Crispies Fish and Chips, was sweeping away broken glass after the march and estimated the damage to his shop as about R3 000.
The windows of a new Peugeot 407, which was parked in front of the shop, were shattered and the side mirrors broken off.
"So far, I have been supporting them, but not any more.
"They might have a reason to strike, but I won't appoint one of them as a security guard.
Siyazisola Jamani, one of the security guards, said: "They treat us as if we are animals. We don't want to fight.
"Tsotsis are doing these things. We are not undisciplined, they are taking a chance by blaming us."
'We can't feed our families'
"I earn R1 100 a month and work 25 days a month, 12 hours a day, rain or shine."
Sibuyisele Nongqotho, another guard, said: "I'm hurt that people think we are doing these things."
Puleng Willem said: "The skollies are doing this. We received our last salary in March. We can't feed our families.
"But, it is better to die today so that things will be better tomorrow.
"The leaders are unfair. They don't want to help us, although we are all citizens."
- Die Burger
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