Dobsonville Mall in Soweto was among numerous shopping centres targeted during the widespread looting and unrest that swept parts of South Africa in July 2021. Reports indicated that looting at Dobsonville Mall continued even while police presence was nearby, raising concerns about law enforcement’s response, especially since the mall is located less than a kilometre from the police station[1].
Eyewitness accounts and news sources confirmed that alongside Jabulani Mall, Dobsonville Mall experienced significant looting, with individuals seen scavenging and hauling away goods days after the initial chaos[3][5]. These incidents were part of a broader wave of violence and property destruction in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, following the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, which resulted in the loss of over 70 lives and billions of rands in property damage[6].
Across the affected regions, about 800 retail stores were looted and 100 malls damaged or destroyed, with early estimates placing the value of the damage at over R20 billion. The aftermath left many properties with excessive to total destruction, and the viability of rebuilding remains uncertain for some owners[2]. In some instances, the lack of police action meant looters operated with impunity, and local communities sometimes took it upon themselves to protect infrastructure[6].
References
- [1] South Africa: Leisurely Police Response Time to Looting …
- [2] About 800 stores looted, 100 malls damaged and over R20bn lost
- [3] Deaths climb to 72 in South Africa riots after Zuma jailed
- [5] Death toll mounts in South Africa rioting after Zuma jailing
- [6] South Africa: Continued violence, looting, destruction of property …