The widespread unrest and the looting of foreign national tuckshops in the North West reached Ikageng on Tuesday night. Looting erupted in Ext. 11, 6, Top City and other areas.
The police swooped in when the crowd went on a looting spree at about 23:00, breaking in and ransacking some tuckshops.
The unrest spread to the rest of Ikageng on Wednesday.
At the time of print, Sgt Kelebogile Trom, the Ikageng SAPS spokesperson said about fourteen people between the ages of 15 and 40 have been arrested in connection with the unrest so far.
Three females are among them. ‘They have been arrested for public violence, business burglary and assault GBH (grievous bodily harm). Trom expects the figures to rise as new cases are registered during the course of the day.
She said the looting of foreign nationals’ tuck shops escalated on Wednesday.
There were scenes of looters breaking into other businesses too. Overland bottle store was not spared.
‘The looters also bombed an Absa ATM in Sisulu Street in Ext. 11. They barricaded many roads across Ikageng and the extensions with rocks,’ she reported.
Although the learners went to school on Wednesday, they abandoned classes and many also went on a looting rampage during the day.
Trom says they had advised the foreign nationals to move their stock to a safer place on Tuesday.
Brig. Sabata Mokgwabone, the provincial head of communications for the SAPS said foreign shop owners had knocked down a child, aged between 9 and 11.
They were fleeing from the violence when the incident occurred. This enraged the crowd even more.
Trom issued a stern warning that it is a criminal offence to loot shops. Those found in possession of stolen goods will be arrested,’ she added.
She appealed to parents to caution their children not to take part in the looting. She urged members of the community to continue reporting the perpetrators.
