At least 142 suspects have been arrested following unrest resulting in the looting of foreign-owned shops. According to police, 109 of those arrested are men, and 33 are women.

OFM News previously reported the planned shutdown descended into chaos when groups of people began looting foreign-owned shops across Bloemfontein.

City manager Sello More expressed concern over the violence and destruction taking place in the metro. “We encourage citizens to engage with law enforcement institutions if they are not happy with how law enforcement is dealing with issues of illegal immigrants, if that is the case.

“But at the same time, we cannot justify looting and say it is an act of dealing with illegal immigrants; only God knows if people owning these shops are legal or illegal. So we cannot be punishing people for owning shops even if they are legal.

“We want to encourage our communities to engage with authorities when it comes to matters of illegal foreigners in our community. Let us not engage in acts of violence.”

Police said relative calm had since been restored in several parts of Bloemfontein following sporadic incidents of public violence, looting, and malicious damage to property. Provincial spokesperson Thabo Covane said the unrest were fuelled by voice notes and digital posters circulated on social media platforms calling for a “total shutdown”.

“Opportunistic groups utilised these digital messages to target local businesses and tuckshops. In response, police opened multiple cases, including public violence, business burglary, business robbery, possession of suspected stolen goods, and malicious damage to property,” said Covane.

The looting started on Sunday (24/5) at around 19:00 in Bloemspruit Phase 6, where a crowd stormed a grocery store. Community members reportedly intervened and rescued the store manager before public order policing units arrived, he said.

Later in the Maditlhabela area of Phase 6, a crowd of about 80 people allegedly threw stones at police vehicles. POP members dispersed the group, while tuckshop owners in Pieter Swarts managed to prevent further losses by removing stock after attempted break-ins.

Some roads were barricaded with stones in Bloemfontein townships. Photo: Morgan Piek

At around 23:45 on Sunday, officers arrested ten suspects allegedly caught inside a shop stealing grocery items. Additional arrests were made in Mahlomola Street in Bochabela, where suspects were allegedly found looting a tuckshop.

On Monday at around 04:00, police dispersed another crowd gathered on Moshoeshoe Street. Fresh looting incidents were also reported at Bergman Square, where suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and business robbery, added Covane.

Arrested suspects are currently being processed and are expected to appear in court soon.

A police helicopter is seen flying over Mangaung township in Bloemfontein following looting incidents. Photo: Morgan Piek

“(We) condemn these acts of lawlessness and warns the public against lawbreaking or instigating violence through digital platforms. High-visibility policing and monitoring of the affected areas remain ongoing. More arrests are imminent,” he added.

Meanwhile, National Service Delivery Forum leader Potso Motoko, one of the organisers of the shutdown, distanced the forum from the violence and looting, saying such actions were never part of the planned protest.

Several businesses in the Bloemfontein CBD and surrounding townships remained closed on Monday, while traffic volumes across the city were noticeably lower than usual.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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