In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

The Carers

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection, churches and community organisations in Hilton and Sweetwaters outside Pietermaritzburg banded together to create a rapid response to the looming food security crisis. The insurrection sought to destroy food and fuel supply lines. Communities most hard hit were the poorer communities where sources of food such as grocery stores and spaza shops were looted and often burnt down. Business, individuals and churches all gave toward the response. At the Hilton Baptist Church the food parcels were collated and then distrubuted to various communities in the periurban surrounds of Hilton including Sweetwaters, Hilton Estate, Emandleni, Khayakahle and others.

Bheki Zuma, who comes from the Hlalakahle community, addresses the community ahead of the handout of food parcels. Key to the success of the intervention has been people from the communities leading the response in partnership with churches and community members from Hilton and other neighbourhoods in the Umgeni municipality.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

In Wartburg the Spar was ransacked and ATM machines were pulled out of the wall and the cash stolen. It was reported that police looked on and did nothing while the banking machines were plundered.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

The Carers

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection, churches and community organisations in Hilton and Sweetwaters outside Pietermaritzburg banded together to create a rapid response to the looming food security crisis. The insurrection sought to destroy food and fuel supply lines. Communities most hard hit were the poorer communities where sources of food such as grocery stores and spaza shops were looted and often burnt down. Business, individuals and churches all gave toward the response. At the Hilton Baptist Church the food parcels were collated and then distrubuted to various communities in the periurban surrounds of Hilton including Sweetwaters, Hilton Estate, Emandleni, Khayakahle and others.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Workers clean up the rubble from shops guttered by fire during #ZumaUnrest in the town of Dalton which was hit particularly hard by the looters.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

There is little left of Wartburg Supermarket that was burned to the ground during #ZumaUnrest.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

In Wartburg the Spar was ransacked and ATM machines were pulled out of the wall and the cash stolen. It was reported that police looked on and did nothing while the banking machines were plundered.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

In Wartburg the Spar was ransacked and ATM machines were pulled out of the wall and the cash stolen. It was reported that police looked on and did nothing while the banking machines were plundered.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Osman Gani, originally from Bangladesh, owned Mafuta's Supermarket in New Hanover. He watched as crowds ransacked his store. He estimates he lost over R700,000.00 of stock. He was not insured.

The Carers

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection, churches and community organisations in Hilton and Sweetwaters outside Pietermaritzburg banded together to create a rapid response to the looming food security crisis. The insurrection sought to destroy food and fuel supply lines. Communities most hard hit were the poorer communities where sources of food such as grocery stores and spaza shops were looted and often burnt down. Business, individuals and churches all gave toward the response. At the Hilton Baptist Church the food parcels were collated and then distrubuted to various communities in the periurban surrounds of Hilton including Sweetwaters, Hilton Estate, Emandleni, Khayakahle and others.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Osman Gani, originally from Bangladesh, owned Mafuta's Supermarket in New Hanover. He watched as crowds ransacked his store. He estimates he lost over R700,000.00 of stock. He was not insured.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

The Wartburg BuildIt was looted and then burned down during #ZumaUnrest. Owners Craig and Linda Behrens had spent 30 years building up the business from scratch originally started in Craig's gararge. As looting was happening in the rest of the town, Craig made an attempt to use his fork lift to block the entrances to the store with piles of bricks but protesters threw rocks at him as he attempted to do that. He was in the yard when the crowd had completed plundering the other shops and turned as one on the BuildIt. He had to run and climb through the fence at the back of the property to escape. He said what was most heart breaking was seeing his own customers that he recognises, driving away with bukkie loads of his stock.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Street traders provide a source of food to the residents of rural towns that have been ransacked by the #ZumaUnrest looting and burning. Mohamed Sall, originally from Senegal has been in South Africa for 25 years. He lives in Greytown and brought a bukkie load of food to Dalton to trade on the street because no other food is available in the town. He buys his food direct from farmers but says farmers have hiked their prices in the wake of the shortage.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

In Wartburg the Spar was ransacked and ATM machines were pulled out of the wall and the cash stolen. It was reported that police looked on and did nothing while the banking machines were plundered.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Looted stores in Dalton. The small town north of Pietermaritzburg was hit particularly hard by looters.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Street traders provide a source of food to the residents of rural towns that have been ransacked by the #ZumaUnrest looting and burning. Daniel Owiredu originally from Koforidua in Ghana is teaching in the neighbouring Swayimane area outside Wartburg. He came into town to purchase supplies but only found street traders with food available.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

In Wartburg the Spar was ransacked and ATM machines were pulled out of the wall and the cash stolen. It was reported that police looked on and did nothing while the banking machines were plundered.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Looted stores in Dalton. The small town north of Pietermaritzburg was hit particularly hard by looters.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Street traders provide a source of food to the residents of rural towns that have been ransacked by the #ZumaUnrest looting and burning.

Originally from Mbali which is part of the greater Pietermaritzburg area, Asanda Khawula has lived in Wartburg for six years heling his mother to run a street trading store. Now they are the biggest store in the town since all other retailers were destroyed during #ZumaUnrest.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

There is little left of Wartburg Supermarket that was burned to the ground during #ZumaUnrest.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Prince Hardware in Dalton was completely cleaned out of all stock. Owners Taheed and Tayab Ali originally from Pakistan lost the stock in both of their hardware stores. They estimate they lost R10 million. They are not insured. They do not know how they are going to rebuild.

Taheed Ali stands in Prince Hardware where the shelves have been stripped bare.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng certain communities in KwaZulu-Natal have seen an extrordinary coming together of neighboring communities, rich and poor, of all colours, to guard against the plunderers and to ensure food and fuel security in the weeks to come. In the wake of the insurrection, hundreds of thousands of people in rural communities will be vulnerable to hunger as supply chains have been destroyed and will take time to rebuild. Already plans are being made to mitigate the hunger crisis that is to come. One such initiative is in the town of Hilton outside Pietermaritzburg where Founder of Mining Community Development, Lucky Mbanjwa is heading up the joint initiative that brings Sweetwaters and Hilton together to ensure security, food and fuel security in the Umgeni and Msunduzi municipalities. He speaks of Hilton as the only economy still standing in the area. The initiative brings churches, civil society, government, business and the taxi associations together to protect the business hub of Hilton that has remained intact largely due to the intervention of citizens to protect the area from the marauding mobs that laid waste to towns and cities across the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Mbanjwa said taxi bosses have undertaken to protect convoys of food and fuel that will be coming into the area.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

There is little left of Wartburg Supermarket that was burned to the ground during #ZumaUnrest.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Looted stores in Dalton. The small town north of Pietermaritzburg was hit particularly hard by looters.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Osman Gani, originally from Bangladesh, owned Mafuta's Supermarket in New Hanover. He watched as crowds ransacked his store. He estimates he lost over R700,000.00 of stock. He was not insured.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

There is little left of Wartburg Supermarket that was burned to the ground during #ZumaUnrest.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Save Supermarket in Dalton was completely burned to the ground and the FNB bank next door was looted and all the cash stolen.

#ZumaUnrest - The Sufferers

In the aftermath of #ZumaUnrest, many rural towns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, were devastated. Shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, mobile phone shops and other retailers were looted and often burned down and ATM machines were plundered for their cash. Testimonies of locals were that armed police stood by as crowds rampaged down the main street of rural towns. While many shop owners were insured, some, particularly foreigners, were not. For them, businesses that took decades of hard labour to build up were lost in just hours. More than 12 days after the looting started in the towns of New Hanover, Dalton and Wartburg north of Pietermaritzburg, the only food available to the surrounding population were mobile street vendours bringing in food from other towns. That situation is unlikely to change for many weeks.

Looted stores in Dalton. The small town north of Pietermaritzburg was hit particularly hard by looters.

In the wake of the #ZumaUnrest insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that saw thousands of looters strip and, on occasions, burn down retail stores, residents have had to queue for food at retail outlets that open up only under heavy guard from private security companies and police. In the weeks to come there is expected to be widespread food insecurity as the supply chains for many communities, particularly in the rural areas and townships will need to be rebuilt from scratch. Communities across economic and colour lines are already uniting to build capacity to feed hungry communities.