{
  "id": 13151249,
  "title": "Durban CBD shop owners count cost after March and March protest violence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/durban-cbd-shop-owners-count-cost-after-march-and-march-protest",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/news/2026-10-09-durban-cbd-shop-owners-count-cost-after-march-and-march-protest-violence/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shop owners in Durban’s Central Business District (CBD) have reported significant financial losses following anti-illegal-immigration protests that broke out in March. The protests, organized by the March and March Movement, resulted in numerous businesses being looted and one building being set alight. Most foreign-owned shops in the CBD were forced to close temporarily as the protests persisted.\n\nMcurus Santus, an Ethiopian businessman who owned a fashion clothing shop, confirmed that the fire destroyed his entire inventory. He had closed his shop around 10 am on Thursday due to the protest, and received a call from another business owner at 5 pm that night, informing him of the fire. Despite the firefighters warning him not to enter the building, Santus rushed to the scene and witnessed the entire structure engulfed in flames. He had spent around R75,000 to purchase merchandise for his shop, and now he cannot afford to rebuild.\n\nAlso affected by the protests was Sizwe Nkosi, a local salon owner, who shared his building with Santus. Nkosi recounted the harrowing incident when a mob set fire to the building. He narrowly escaped the fire and now faces the daunting task of rebuilding his salon, which he considers his source of survival. Nkosi has no plans to reopen his salon in the CBD anytime soon, stating that the protests have caused him too much financial strain. He calls on the government to address the issue of illegal immigration urgently, as the ongoing protests continue to negatively impact both businesses and residents.",
  "summary": "Shop owners say they lost stock and livelihoods after businesses were allegedly looted and a building was set alight during Thursday’s March and March protest in Durban’s CBD.",
  "key_points": [
    "Anti-illegal-immigration protests caused $75k+ losses for Durban CBD shop owners.",
    "Ethiopian fashion shop owner Mcurus Santus lost entire inventory in fire.",
    "Salon owner Sizwe Nkosi abandoned CBD location due to financial strain."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "LIVE | House, motorbike and tyre shop set alight in Durban as anti-immigration tensions flare",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/live-house-motorbike-and-tyre-shop-set-alight-in-durban-as-anti",
        "published": "2026-10-09T15:29:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}