蜜芽传媒

Many South Africans are still in the midst of the worst unrest in years - but some communities are now starting the clean up.

Over the last week, thousands of shops and businesses - from small corner shops in townships to massive malls - have been looted, stripped to the bare bones and sometimes torched.

The Government says it is having to act to prevent food shortages.

In one Durban neighbourhood, locals quickly armed themselves with guns and baseball bats to block access to their streets and to chase looters out of local supermarkets. Their command centre was based at the local mosque. One of them, Dave Bumberry, says it's now calm - but people are still struggling.

"It's apocalyptic what we've been through. Just the basic necessities of bread, milk and baby formula has thrown everybody trying to find these resources."

(Photo: A person walks past a deserted Dr. Pixley Ka Seme street strewn with dirt and filth caused after days of looting in Durban. Credit: Getty Images)