Mense suffering from “Januworry” in Elsies River went bos at the weekend, looting a bread truck along 35th Street.
In a video making the rounds on social media, men, women and children are seen closing in on the white truck that had overturned.
In the 23-second clip, the truck can be seen lying on its side on the corner just after the traffic lights and people swarming around it.
The rcording was made by a driver in a vehicle on the opposite side of the road.
Motorists can also be seen running across the road in traffic and filling their vehicles with crates of bread.
Loafers loot flipped bread truck in Elsies. Video supplied
A Law Enforcement officer can be seen crossing the road but it is not clear whether he was able to stop the looting.
A female voice in the vehicle from where the video was recorded is heard saying: “So die polisie kan hulle niks maak nie?”
Elsies River community leader, Imraahn Mukaddam has condemned the mob-like behaviour of the residents in the video, saying: “This is a typical response in poor and working class communities.
“People have a tendency to exploit situations and because there are seldom consequences, this culture of looting will persist.
“As can be heard in the video, police are present but not making any effort to safeguard the cargo of the truck. This is unacceptable.”
TAKE: Elsies River looting
But one resident says the overturned truck was a blessing in disguise for them.
“Yes, it was sad but nobody got hurt. People out here are tired of living in poverty,” she says.
“So if a blessing comes, it comes. If the government cannot look after us, we have to do it ourselves.”