Planned shutdown overshadowed by looting, gang activity in Bloemfontein

Central SA

─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:41 Mon, 25 May 2026

Alleged gang members and community members targeted foreign-national owned shops in Mangaung townships. Photo: Morgan Piek

What was planned as a peaceful shutdown in Bloemfontein has resulted in widespread looting of foreign national-owned shops.

On Monday (25/5), alleged gang groups and some community members took advantage of the unrest as the shutdown, announced by National Service Delivery Forum leader Potso Motoko, was meant to highlight poor service delivery, unemployment, and concerns around undocumented foreign nationals allegedly selling drugs and illicit products.

However, tensions escalated on Sunday from around 21:00 in Phase 6 and Phase 9, before spreading to other neighbourhoods across the metro. Various local shops, most of them owned by foreign nationals, were looted overnight and into Monday morning.

Alleged gang members and some community members are targeting foreign-national-owned shops in Mangaung townships. Photo: Morgan Piek

By early Monday, several roads across the city were closed. Some were barricaded using rocks and debris. Public transport was also disrupted.

In a WhatsApp group, a DA Mangaung councillor informed residents that municipal workers were unable to report for duty because of the shutdown activities. “The shutdown activities reportedly involve undocumented foreign nationals being targeted,” said Selmé Pretorius.

“As a result, there will unfortunately be no waste or refuse collection services today. This applies to domestic and trade waste.”

Alleged gang groups and some community members took advantage of the unrest. Photo: Morgan Piek

Motoko distanced the forum from the violence and looting, saying the unrest was never part of the planned protest action. “Our plans were to shut down Mangaung metro and the provincial government that is failing us.

“We were going to march and protest and shut down those offices which are not responding to our issues. There’s corruption going on, and there are issues of taxi permits.”

“They are giving people temporary six-month permits that are useless. They are not regulating the taxi industry properly, they are not engaging in the matters. People have been marching for various reasons, giving memorandums which they are not responding to.”

The demonstration was intended to focus on government accountability and service delivery failures, not criminal activity, he emphasised. The forum believed criminal elements hijacked the shutdown.

Forum members were on the ground attempting to identify those behind the looting. “We will not stop holding local government responsible because of the criminal activities which are taking place.”

The looting appeared to be gang-related. Photo: Morgan Piek.

Motoko also criticised government support programmes aimed at assisting small businesses. Small business development minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams had previously announced R500m in support for spaza shops during the previous financial year, followed by another R300m allocation for the new financial year, yet many small businesses had not benefited, he said.

In Freedom Square, residents told OFM News the looting appeared to be gang-related. Several spaza shops were targeted despite being closed for the day and not operating during the shutdown.

In one volatile incident, a bakkie stopped in front of a targeted shop during an attempted looting. A shot was reportedly fired from the vehicle before it sped away, while groups of residents continued gathering in different areas.

What was planned as a peaceful shutdown in Bloemfontein has resulted in widespread looting. Photo: Morgan Piek

A strong police presence was visible throughout several Bloemfontein townships. Police vehicles patrolled affected areas, and a helicopter was monitoring the situation from above.

Journalists covering the unrest also faced intimidation. Individuals believed to be linked to criminal gangs allegedly attempted to stop journalists from taking photographs, while stones were thrown at a vehicle carrying members of the media.