The local police arrested 50 suspects in connection with the looting of various shops in this area, amid the widespread #zumaunrest.
According to the station commander, Col Bhushi Ndlovu, they were found in possession of suspected stolen property, including clothes, food, boxes of new shoes, buckets of paint, fridges, mattresses, door frames and other building materials, from various shops.
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The police seized all the material and locked it up in a secured place at the police station.
Ndlovu said a group of people in the area had broken into various shops and looted these on Monday afternoon. The police immediately responded and arrested some of them.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Matsulu Periodical Court soon on charges of public violence, possession of suspected stolen property and looting.
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“The suspects broke through the entrances to a number of shops, including Ackermans, Boxer, Build it, BnH Hardware, Boxer Liquor, KFC, Debonairs and others ,” Jacob Siboza, the chairperson of the local community policing forum, said.
Siboza condemned these acts of violence and criminal activities in the area. He called on the community to unite and assist the police in their work to end crime in the area.
“What happened must be condemned in all possible forms. There are known platforms, legal platforms, of raising people’s concerns, other than resorting to vandalising properties. I have received many calls this morning from people, concerned by the possibility of being left without employment after what had happened on Monday. This hurts and must not be promoted in our communities,” he said.
