Shops looted in South Africa as protest intensifies

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

Protesters have looted several shops overnight, until Thursday morning in South Africa’s North West province, police have said.

Protesters are demanding for the resignation of the North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, whose administration is accused of poor service delivery and corruption.

According to local sources, most of the shops targeted belonged to foreigners operating in townships in the city of Mahikeng.

“I don’t know the exact number of shops looted and how many of them are foreign-owned. We are still waiting for the owners to come forward and report,” Police spokeswoman Lt. Col. Adele Myburgh told Anadolu Agency Thursday.

A bus and a truck trailer were also set on fire by protesters who barricaded roads but were dispersed by police early Thursday.

Myburgh said nine people have been arrested in connection to the violence.

Protesters in South Africa usually loot foreign-owned businesses or burn government property if they want their demands to be heard.

In 2016, more than a hundred foreign-owned shops were looted in broad daylight when protesters opposed a government decision to replace the city mayor of South Africa’s capital Pretoria.