Businesses in the Isiphingo business district south of Durban are prepared for any eventuality of looting and violence that may occur during the lockdown, according to the area's business group.
The Chairperson of the Isipingo Business Forum (IBF), Junaid Iqbal, was speaking on The Special Focus when he said that the group has deployed private security personnel to patrol the area for any possibility of violence during the lockdown period, after looting rocked the nearby area of Chatsworth.
Hunger has forced people to loot stores in areas such as Mitchell's Plein in the Western Cape as the financial impact of the lockdown begins to hit hard on the nation. Iqbal said that the private security company works closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Durban Metro Police Department (DMPD). He added that the 24 hour patrols have helped to reduce crime in the area to near zero. "Security company works very closely with law enforcement. Their presence deters people from [committing] any criminal activities. It is very positive. We haven't had a single incident in the Isiphingo area as such." He said that the private security personnel have been briefed about how to address any violence that could erupt. "Security is briefed about how to liaise with SAPS and Metro Police if they see any group of people marching towards Isiphingo." Iqbal added: "We have a plan and are prepared if anything has to happen." Police have also stepped up law enforcement efforts in the area after it was reported that people went on with "business as usual" during the lockdown which imposed strict restrictions across the country in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Listen to the full discussion here:
Click to set custom HTML
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorZahid Jadwat is a South African writer, columnist, podcaster and radio show host. Archives
March 2021
Categories
All
|