BEER DEPOTS AND WAREHOUSES IN SOUTH AFRICA LOOTED

The Beer Association has said that a large number of liquor stores in South Africa have been looted, as well as important facilities of SAB and Heineken.

In a statement released by the group on Tuesday, it said that a Heineken warehouse in KwaZulu-Natal was looted on Sunday, then "cleaned out" on Tuesday.

In KZN, two SAB depots were also looted and set on fire.

Business Insider reports that, as of Tuesday morning, defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngakula argued that a State of Emergency is not required to quell looting. But others, including Former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, and former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, Dumisa Ntsebeza, have argued it is necessary to restore the rule of law.

The Beer Association has said that trucks carrying malt have also been attacked and that brewers believe their other facilities are also under threat.

The alcohol industry is already on its knees due to the extended ban on the selling of alcohol during the Covid-19 lockdown. Now, it's faced with the stealing of stock and extensive damage to its infrastructure.

A Value Logistics warehouse in Cato Ridge was also torched, an important link to get food and other necessary elements across the country.

Panic buying has led to several shops in Gauteng and KZN having nothing to offer on their shelves and, with them not expecting deliveries soon, both consumers and retailers are worried.

Image credit: Daily Maverick