‘I got what I deserved’: Durban’s ‘Mercedes looter’ apologises to SA

On July 12, 2021, Mbuso Moloi wrecked his life when he decided to take part in the looting. Footage of him carrying a basket of groceries from a Woolworths store in Durban was seen all over social media. 

Moloi,to be forever labelled the Woolies looter or the Mercedes looter, is now apologising to all South Africans through two letters he gave to the Sunday Times.  

Moloi said his name had been tarnished when he was photographed carrying the basket of food items which he loaded into his father's Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe. 

He said his decision to loot at the time was a poor reflection of his character and what he believed in. 

“There are many things I am not proud of, certainly not 12 July 2021. Whether I’m in a Mercedes Benz or on foot. Wrong is wrong.

"After being labelled and smeared a civil terrorist, I got what I deserved. Believe me, it was more than I bargained for," he said.

"It has not been easy; I have endured a season or two of isolation and silence. Filtered with unfamiliar yellow concrete walls, startling echoes of heavy metal gates opening and closing, and my mother’s tears.

"These seasons will certainly humble any man. I was stubborn, arrogant and selfish. I thought reaching for the stars meant climbing on top of others, using their hands to lift me up and heads as stepping blocks. I acted immaturely, losing track and sight of the present day.”

Moloi handed himself over to police on July 28, 2021 after a warrant of arrest was issued for him the previous day. He has made several court appearances and changed lawyers on more than three occasions. 

During his last appearance on June 23 Moloi was expected to plead guilty to all eight counts, which includes theft, trespassing and operating a vehicle without a corresponding number plate, however he once again changed attorneys. 

Dunstan Farrell of Farrell Attorneys said they had been approached by Moloi to represent him in his matter. 

"We have not yet advised him on whether he should plead guilty, we are still perusing the statements."

The businessman, who told the court he "does tenders" for a living, owns two vehicles and lives with his parents in Cowies Hill, near Pinetown. He believed his case was personal and that he had been singled out. 

“It still bothers me that my case has been one that has been dragged through the media and on top of that, I had paid a bail amount of R5,000 whereas others who had committed much more severe crimes during and after the unrest were given bail ranging from R1,500-R2,500 and none of them had to spend seven nights in Westville prison and experience the torture and trauma that my arrest came with," he complained.

"Furthermore, there were others who were caught on video and by police officers with appliances, heavy equipment, money, safes and weapons and ammunition in their vehicles and none of them had their vehicles taken from them and some even had their cases withdrawn. It goes without question that my case has been one that is personal.”

In September the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in KwaZulu-Natal obtained a preservation order at the high court in Durban for the Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe which Moloi had used to commit the crimes. 

He said the case had mental and financial implications that pushed him to the edge of hell. 

“I have had to go through therapy after experiencing a near-death and suicide experience after being bullied and pushed around in Westville Prison.

"Therapists don’t take medical aid and if I have to tell you how much a therapist costs you would possibly consider changing professions cause those people make a lot of money.”

Moloi said he had been to Woolworths several times to shop where he took the opportunity to apologise to the staff at the store which he looted. 

"In hindsight, being magnified on your smart screens and crucified at your fingertips, I have had to adopt the shadow of the, ‘Mercedes Benz looter/ Benz looter or the Woolies looter’, depending on how my story found you.

"It was as if an arsenal of castigation had been released on me, with some arbitrary and discriminatory shots being fired. I am not a judge and evidently not a saint. I am human, however.

"The July unrest was wrong. A horrendous, unaccustomed civilian tsunami, that has scarred hundreds and thousands South Africans. I do not wish its abrupt aftermath on anyone, certainly not ‘Benz Looters’."

Moloi went viral after the DA leader in eThekwini, Nicole Graham, shared a video of the incident on Twitter on July 13. 

He initially told TimesLIVE he was not looting and that the incident had been taken out of context.

“I picked up things that were outside, not inside. I did not step inside Woolworths,” he said at the time. 

But Graham poured cold water on his statements when she shared a longer video of Moloi walking out of the store the following day. 

The matter has been adjourned to August 15 for pre-trial conference.