By Buziwe Nocuze
For years, Ashua Mwangi’s business was the go-to spot in Nyanga for phone repairs. A crack in the screen? Left your phone in the rain? Ashua could be trusted to make your handset as good as new.
However, when the Santaco taxi strike broke down, looters raided his store and burnt it to the ground. Unable to compensate those who lost their phones, Ashua not only lost his business, he lost his impeccable reputation.
Now the local repair shop owner is trying to explain to his customers that he can’t replace their lost cellphones.
“When the Santaco taxi strike started it didn’t cross my mind that I would be affected like this. I closed the shop as early as possible on the day the strike was announced,” said Mwangi.
On Friday morning, Mwangi received a call informing him of a fire that had reached his repair shop at the Nyanga Terminus.
“We couldn’t approach the area because it was too dangerous,” said Mwangi.
“I was later told my container had completely burnt down.”
When the strike ended, Mwangi plucked up the courage to visit the charred remains of his shop.
“I had more than 100 phones in the shop, but they were all burnt when the container was set alight. I can’t work out if the culprits started stealing phones before the fire, but many phones were reduced to ashes,” he said.
Several cellphones were already repaired and ready for collection by their owners.
“The truth is I won’t be able to reimburse them. Some had paid deposits, but the harsh reality is that I don’t have the means to refund their money or purchase new phones. We’re all victims of this tragedy,” he said.
“I realise some people expect me to compensate them, but I don’t have the money. My income comes solely from repairing phones.”
The path forward is uncertain for Mwangi who now faces the daunting task of rebuilding his business.
Resident Luxolo Mapiti said he understood Mwangi’ssituation.
“Demanding their phones back would be selfish. Mwangi can’t magically produce replacement phones. Let’s remember that he too is a victim. He must rebuild his business from the ashes,” said Mapiti.
Pictured above: A once-thriving repair shop in Nyanga Terminus, Cape Town reduced to ruins by the recent taxi strike that concluded on Thursday
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
