Retail groups start counting the cost of last weekâs looting and vandalism By Sandile Mchunu Share RETAILERS are starting to count the cost of the impact of the past weekâs looting and violent protests that ravaged their outlets in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. Pepkor Holdings said on Friday that 489 of its retail stores, or 9 percent of its overall portfolio, had been damaged and looted. The Steinhoff International subsidiary said its operations has been impacted by the civil unrest of the past week. The damaged properties include one of the JD Groupâs distribution centres in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal.