Update: Authorities arrive in Alex after looting

Update, 3 September, 11.15am

Political authorities have arrived in Alexandra after shops were looted late yesterday, 2 September into today (3 September).

This includes Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, Gauteng premier David Makhura and MEC of Community Safety Faith Mazibuko.

Makhura and Mazibuko arrived in Alexandra and were taken of a tour of how the area has been affected by the looting, certain shops had been burnt down.

The Alex News reporter, Nduduzo Nxumalo is at the scene and said that Alex Plaza and Pan Africa Mall have been affected by the looting have remained closed and motorists have been advised to avoid the area.

Update, 3 September, 9.30am

Provincial police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said six suspects were arrested in the early hours of this morning (3 September) for looting and public violence. They will appear in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court either later today or tomorrow.

Initial report, 3 September 8.30am

Wave after wave of looting that first affected Pretoria and then spread to the Joburg CBD came to the township of Alexandra on the evening of 2 September.

Officers from Alex Police Station used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse defiant shop looters in Alexandra this morning (3 September), with a number of shops torched and looted around Pan Africa Mall.

Shop owners are trying to pick up the pieces, while hundreds of shop looters are standing in defiance against the police. Pan Africa Mall remains closed with a high presence of police closely monitoring the situation.

Mohammed Moshed, one of the shop owners, spoke to Alex News. He said he lost approximately R3 million of stock when his shop was broken into by the looters at around 9pm last night in the presence of the police who did not manage to stop the loot.

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