Sharpeville comes to a standstill as foreign-owned tuck shops are looted

From Phelandaba to Vuka, the township of Sharpeville, in Gauteng, has come to a standstill as hundreds of community members are raiding foreign-owned shops.

According to reports, people working at some of the tuck shops have retaliated, firing shots at the crowd to try and keep them at bay.

Community members say they ‘demand their township’s economy back’.

They have stopped foreigners from operating their tuck shops and are demanding that they ‘pack and go’.

Residents, speaking to Sedibeng Ster, said they have had enough of foreigners operating businesses in the township while they suffer without jobs.

“They should go back to where they come from… The money we give to them does nothing for us as they take it back to their countries. They are killing us through expired food and they are also killing our economy,” the residents said.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said on Tuesday that the Sharpeville community reportedly raided the tuck shops and, yesterday, a local businessman and his friend were shot. The businessman died and his friend was taken to a local hospital.

It is not known if the shooting is related to the ongoing fight between the community and the tuck shop owners.

Sedibeng Ster will publish more information as it becomes available.