CAPE Town's end-of-year looting season got off to a robust start on Wednesday as ruling party supporters helped themselves to goods from CBD street vendors whose stalls they trashed and vandalised.
Items that flew off the shelves included top fashion knock-offs by Nikke, Addiddas, Louise Vitonn and other leading Fong Kong labels as the hip firebrands "geared up" for the holidays.
Those who missed the free-for-all needn't worry - defiant poo fighters, as we now refer to them, have promised an even larger beano later this month with at least 250 00 marchers. Retailers, take note: November 29, it's going to be a Kwanza bonanza.
Andile Lili, the former ANC city councillor who is now literally the city's chief shit-stirrer, has warned that the protest would go ahead with or without permission from the authorities and there would be fun and games for all - although perhaps not for the Western Cape premier.
Lili told the Cape Times that he was "very angry" with Helen Zille and that she should be careful when entering informal settlements around the city. "All of them [shack dwellers] must attack Helen Zille wherever she goes. Helen Zille knows there is a crisis. But she does not respond." The lack of response, Lili added, meant she was responsible for the chaos. Still, he had good news for the DA leader. "We don't hate Helen Zille as a person," he said. "We hate her for her actions."
The city intends suing for damages. Legal action is to be taken against various poo fighters in their personal capacity. This includes Lili and - if we may put it this way - his number two, ANC councillor Loyiso Nkohla.