WATCH | 'He's only trying to make a living' - Lucky Lekgwathi’s restaurant looted & destroyed
Image: Instagram / Lucky Lekgwathi
Social media users have responded with shock and anger at the looting of former Orlando Pirates star Lucky Lekgwathi’s restaurant this week.
The star opened up Grootman by Lucky Lekgwathi in Kliptown, Soweto, earlier this year, after hanging up his boots in 2016.
The restaurant employed several staff from the area but was hit hard by unrest in Soweto over the last few days.
Taking to social media on Monday, Lekgwathi shared a video and pictures of his vandalised store, alongside the caption “I leave everything to the Almighty God.”
The video shows the store gutted inside, with tables, chairs and appliances stolen.
Attempts to get comment from Lekgwathi on the looting was unsuccessful at the time of publishing this article. It will be updated once comment is received.
Several shopping centres and dozens of businesses were hit by looting and rioting in Soweto on Monday, including the Ndofaya, Jabulani and Maponya malls.
It spread to the area and other parts of Gauteng at the weekend after days of protests in KwaZulu-Natal linked to the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday evening called for calm and said those responsible for the violence would face the “full might of the law”.
Mobs of looters overran the Pan Africa Mall in Alexandra, Gauteng on July 12 2021. Violent riots, widespread looting and other criminal elements have flared up in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal since the weekend resulting in approximately 400 arrests and six deaths.
Pictures of the destruction to Lekgwathi's store were shared widely online and sparked outrage.
Former Bafana Bafana star Siphiwe Tshabalala said he was sorry to see the destruction, while sports and radio personality Mpho Letsholonyane said it was heartbreaking.
“I am so sorry Lucky. This is so heartbreaking. I honestly have no words,” she wrote.
Teko Modise wrote: “Eish! Hade, skipper. What’s happening right now is heartbreaking”
Here are some of the other reactions:
Lucky Lekgwathi's restaurant is not even three months old. Now is in complete and utter ruin. Tomorrow when he's struggling, the same people who ruined his business and his livelihood will say he wasted his money when he was playing football. pic.twitter.com/ek0euPlyUb
— A Dog That Bites (@SkepeMatsebane) July 12, 2021
My heart goes out to Lucky Lekgwathi and the people he employed.
— Sharna Fernandez (@SharnaFernandez) July 12, 2021
Its sad and distressing to see your dreams trashed, in one fell swoop. I pray that you will rise above this in time. My heart bleeds!@rinmor @NicoleGraham031 @jsteenhuisen @Keekaimran @kubeshgovender https://t.co/0MbPhh5Nmw
Opened in April this year, today it was looted and damaged.
— Mpiyom’bango Ndwandwe (@Mbango_Ndwandwe) July 12, 2021
Lucky Lekgwathi was only trying to make a living. pic.twitter.com/ZLmH9gnrlx
Lucky lekgwathi opened this great place just few months ago its saddening what just happened to the whole place destroyed. He employed 4 people ...why destroy our own people?🥲🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/iCdYGVhIiq
— #PutSouthAfricansFirst❤❤❤❤❤✊✊✊ (@Tsona31433828) July 12, 2021
Strength to Lucky Lekgwathi and others #gautengshutdown #gautengcovid19 #ZumaUnrest pic.twitter.com/SQHzjEdZmw
— Lešole (@Bra_Lesole) July 12, 2021
Lucky Lekgwathi shop has been looted in https://t.co/dj1WpzuVeV captain I am so sorry ngokukwehlele bafo.i remember you opened your shop a few months ago when Palacios was there.Sengathi unkulunkulu angakwandisela bafo.This is so painful. pic.twitter.com/WSf1tdiM91
— Mfana kaMoffu Mncube (@jabulan16136118) July 12, 2021
Lucky Lekgwathi opened this great place just few months ago in Gauteng, it's saddening what's happening the whole place is destroyed and 4 people were employed there.
— Oupa Pilane (@oupapilane) July 12, 2021
Why destroy our people? This is not WMC but a young man who was working hard to make a living. pic.twitter.com/YJOHxooZB9
Lucky Lekgwathi lost his business today from looters.#SouthAfricaIsBurning pic.twitter.com/PDjFe9OrTz
— Letshela Mofokeng (@SirLetshela) July 12, 2021
Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi opened his eating place few months ago 💔 pic.twitter.com/WU1OWELMtv
— #NativeOfBelaBela (@tsheko2020) July 12, 2021
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