Crime soars as guards strike
Durban - Several chain stores in central Durban have been robbed on successive days as criminals become more brazen in the absence of striking security guards, according to a report on Wednesday.
The Daily News said staff who had been appointed makeshift security guards had been threatened, assaulted and stabbed in the attacks.
The effect of the security guard strike had also been felt at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) - where students have become regular victims of muggings.
In Pietermaritzburg, some businesses had shut down temporarily after repeated robberies.
Gang of women unleashing terror
In Durban, the notorious "A-Team" - a gang of women accompanied by a few men and named for their slick operation - had returned to unleash terror on businesses.
The team of about 30 women, aged between 25 and 45 years, all armed with knives, bursts into stores and help themselves to clothing and other items, while staff, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers, could only stand and watch.
They usually made their get-away in waiting taxis.
'We don't stand a chance'
"We don't stand a chance against these criminals with the guards on strike - we are outnumbered by this A-Team," said the manager of Milady's in West Street, who did not want to be named.
The manager of Jet in West Street, who would also not be named, said: "A cashier who was stationed at the door last Tuesday was pulled outside and stabbed by a group of armed men thinking he was a security guard."
A Jet staff member, now stationed at the door, said he feared for his life.
"I am quite scared to stand at the door. It is not even my job, but I have to do it. We have turns to stand guard, but I feel that at any minute I am going to be attacked," he said.
'Situation escalating out of control'
A Milady's manager said: "We were hit on Tuesday and on Wednesday and there is nothing that we can do besides step aside."
Gus Brand, general manager of The Hub in West Street, said the store had been broken into on Tuesday morning and several units of stock had been taken.
"This is the second time in two weeks we have had a break-in and, with our daily shoplifting incidents, the situation is escalating out of control."
Students fearful
The university had also been hit by the strike, with recent increases in muggings, car thefts, burglaries at residences and even a case of rape being reported on one campus.
"The increase in crime on the campuses can be attributed to the nationwide security strike. The majority of our security guards are on strike," said university spokesperson David Sedumedi.
Several students have embarked on a stay-away from lectures and tests as they feared for their security, the Daily News reported.
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