The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed Massmart says it is rebuilding its looted stores because safety has been restored after the widespread unrest in July last year, making it possible for them to reopen. Altogether, 39 stores of the retail giant were looted, and some were vandalised in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
They have since managed to reopen five Game stores in KwaZulu-Natal. The remaining five, which were completely gutted, are still being reconstructed.
Addressing customers during the official re-opening of one of the stores in Pietermaritzburg Massmart’s Katherine Madley, says, “We are coming back stronger. We are coming back better. We have better stock and better shops. We also have more to offer the customer now than we had before the looting. We are very excited about that. We have restored and regrown for the South African customers here in KZN.”
Meanwhile, a shopper, Nomfundo Ngcobo called on the public to support business instead of looting them.
“The store is very big. We get everything we need at the store. I was very disappointed when the looting happened. We were left without food. The prices in some shops became high. There were very few shops operating. The lootings must never ever happen again because at the end of the day we are the ones who get affected.”
