A video shared on social media showed Brookside Mall burning, while a second clip shows a blaze at Edendale Mall. Looters can be seen in the background, seemingly loading stolen goods in vehicles.

Meanwhile, five more stores on Jabu Ndlovu and Masukwana Streets were set on fire as well. Newcastle centre owner on Monday said, “they vandalised our centre in Osizweni last night. Every single shop [is now] on fire”.

A firefighter told reporters how looters were emptying the shelves while emergency personnel attempted to quell the blaze.

This is a developing story.

And burning malls down in Pietermaritzburg is taking away jobs! Please bring in the army ! pic.twitter.com/JKtCgUph8G

— Sirgren Naidoo (@SirgrenN) July 12, 2021

The Citizen