This is up from the 19 people nabbed by midday on Tuesday 18 May. Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, reveals that in the last 24 hours, the looting of small shops belonging to foreign nationals increased significantly. Some of the shops were also quite badly vandalised in Bloemfontein townships. More arrests are expected as shop owners report the looting and malicious damage to property. Makhele provides an update on other areas in Mangaung like Botshabelo and Thaba’Nchu where unrest was also reported.

“There were other protests which were reported in areas like Soutpan, Dewetsdorp, and Zastron. In Zastron protests, about 20 people were arrested this far for public violence and looting, which took place at foreign national's shops as well. Once more, we are appealing to those criminal elements who are continuing to loot the shops and barricade the roads to stop this as we now consider their conduct as pure criminality,” says Makhele sternly.

Law enforcement authorities tell OFM News the situation in all the areas in Mangaung appears to be more or less quiet. This is despite social media reports indicating otherwise.

Meanwhile negotiations between the leadership of the Mangaung Community Concern, which is behind the shutdown in the metro, and the Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela are back on the table. This is despite media reports alleging the protest action had been called off on Tuesday 18 May after an agreement between the relevant stakeholders was reached on the Mangaung community’s list of demands which include the dissolution of the current council.

Previously one of the leaders behind the demonstration, Lilly Tsoeu, told OFM News that an agreement between themselves, the metro, and Ntombela was on the cards, but was still being reviewed by all the parties following the first meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

OFM News