AUCTION FOR LOOTED FURNITURE, APPLIANCES

MBABANE – Furniture and electrical appliances that were looted and recovered during the June 2021 political unrest will go under the hammer.

The hundreds of new household goods that were looted from one of the country’s major furniture shops will be sold by public auction on February 26, 2022 at Somhlolo Shisanyama next to Somhlolo National Stadium. According to Deputy Sheriff David Magagula, the items are in good condition with a few scratches. He further pointed out that a registration fee of E50, which was non-refundable would be required to be paid in advance through MTN Mobile Money and the deadline was on February 25, 2022. Magagula, who has been instructed to auction the items by Topbet (PTY) Limited said some of the household items that would be sold were beds, washing machines, refrigerators, couches and television sets. The auction will be suitable for both individuals and businesses, as a 2009 Isuzu bus and a Quantum mini bus will also be sold on that day.

The number of bidders to take part in the auction is limited to 200 in conformity with COVID-19 guidelines for gatherings. The auctioneer can be contacted on 7629 8233/7965 7137 for enquiries related to the auction. The name of the furniture shop has not been mentioned in the advert for the auction, but the deputy sheriff disclosed that the furniture and the electrical appliances were those that were looted from one of the country’s major furniture shops during the political unrest last year.  It must, however, be noted that during the political unrest in the country, a number of furniture shops and supermarkets were looted.

Investigations

Some of the items were recovered by the police in various homesteads during investigations and this led to the arrest of a number of people, including pupils. A number of those who were arrested are currently out on bail while some were convicted and sentenced. During the political unrest last year, it was reported that some people were charged for allegedly looting property amounting to over E6 million at Buy Cash Hardware at Sithobelweni area and had their sentence wholly suspended after the items in their possession were recovered.
The exact amount of the looted property was E6 668 377. Initially, during mitigation, it was found that the looted items amounted to E132 000. Another furniture shop that was affected during the unrest was Lewis Furniture, which had its warehouse at Ngwenya burnt after the looters had taken the furniture that was inside.

The destruction to property occurred all over the country. Roads were inaccessible as the looters vandalised cars. The first notable casualty was Shoprite, whose truck carrying goods was set ablaze in what was described as the arguably first unfortunate occurrence on our shores. The situation had seemingly calmed down after government deployed the army to the streets to ensure order and peace. Government said it might take about 10 years for many of the affected businesses to recover. The looted and vandalised stores included four OK Stores at Kwaluseni, Mathangeni, Mhlaleni and Logoba. There were two liquor stores that were looted at Kwaluseni and Mathangeni, with two SaveMart stores at Luyengo and Mbikwakhe also vandalised. Out of these, four stores were set on fire and these were Kwaluseni, Mathangeni, Mhlaleni and Luyengo.

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