Soweto police had their hands full on Monday as protesters looted stores and businesses around the country’s largest township.
Protesters first made their way into Maponya Mall and looted a few stores, however, Police reacted quickly by evacuating the shopping centre. The protesters made several more attempts to enter Maponya Mall before turning their attention to local businesses surrounding the iconic shopping centre.
Several business establishments along Mohloka Street in Pimville were picked clean as looters forced their way into the unguarded stores and made out with meat, fridges and furniture among their plunder.
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Popular outlets such as Meli’s Lounge and Shoprite’s Liquor Store were some of the biggest casualties in the onslaught Police rushed to the scene but their attempts to quell the riots were futile. Protesters managed to outnumber officers.
Police have arrived in Pimville and are using rubber bullets to disperse the looters #ShutDownGauteng pic.twitter.com/yAnozdfUuB
— Soweto Urban (@SowetoUrban) July 12, 2021
It is unclear whether the protests are in support of former President Jacob Zuma who began his 15-month long prison sentence last week or an act of desperation. One bystander who chose to remain anonymous said he believed the protests were not politically motivated but rather fuelled by poverty.
“Look unemployment in the country is at its highest and people are hungry,” he said.
“If there is a chance to help themselves they may take it. Unfortunately, many will lose their jobs because of these riots but what can people do.”
Elsewhere on the same day in Soweto Dobsonville Mall, Jabulani Mall and Protea Gardens Mall all suffered the same fate as protests managed to find their way in a loot.
In light of the protests, The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure has requested the deployment of the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to help combat the looting sprees.
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