The Shoprite Group is working “around the clock” to restock the shelves of stores affected by unrest and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

• The Shoprite Group is working to restock shelves in areas affected by unrest.
• Stores will reopen when it’s safe for employees and customers.
• Shops in other parts of the country are operational and fully stocked.

The Shoprite Group is working “around the clock” to restock the shelves of stores affected by unrest and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
In a statement, the group said efforts to rebuild the affected branches were under way and added that the stores would reopen “as soon as it is safe for both customers and employees”.
Due to days of unrest in Durban, there are limited supplies in the metro.
On Wednesday, shoppers were seen queuing at stores in Morningside, La Lucia, Umgeni Park, Durban North and Overport. Groceries were rationed to prevent panic buying.
“While we have been affected by the violence, looting, arson and vandalism, we are doing everything in our power to restock shelves as quickly as possible,” the supermarket group said.
The group condemned the unrest, and said it affected the livelihoods and lives of millions of law-abiding citizens, adding that it affected businesses “that make positive contributions to the economy and [create] jobs”.
“The mayhem and destruction are everyone’s loss, particularly in a country ravaged by a poor economy and joblessness, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The riots are only making our challenges, including food security, greater,” the statement read.
It continued: 
We are especially grateful to our loyal customers, many of whom have reached out and offered to help with clean-up operations and want to assure our customers that we are working day and night to continue to feed and support the nation.
In other parts of the country, Shoprite stores were fully operational and fully stocked, the group said in a statement.