Arson, looting and violence disrupts foreign businesses in several cities within Gauteng province in South Africa. There were reports of looting which started overnight in Malvern east of Johannesburg with locals targeting foreign-owned shops. Several shops were broken into and looted. Some buildings were set alight overnight and several cars owned by car dealerships were burnt. The police cannot confirm the nationalities of the owners of the shops, buildings and car dealerships until they come forward to make a formal report at the police station.
Also in Turffontein south of Johannesburg, several shops were broken into and looted before police arrived and dispersed them with rubber bullets.
Two shops were set alight in Tembisa and several foreign-owned shops looted by locals. Police intensified presence and have arrested 8 suspects for public violence and possession of stolen goods while the hunt for those that instigated these attacks are on-going. Firefighters were on-site to deal with the fire and there hasn’t been any casualties in Tembisa.
In the CBD of Pretoria, police are monitoring a tense situation after Taxi drivers assemble for the continuation of protest they started last week. A taxi driver was allegedly shot dead by drug peddlers in Pretoria which resulted in violence and widespread looting.
Abiodun Abidoye
