Tag: Diepsloot

The situation in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg was calm on Saturday following reports of shop lootings and public violence during the last week, police said.

“It has been quiet, there were no incidents reported,” said Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

On Monday police arrested 45 people for public violence, housebreaking, and possession of unlicensed firearms.

The unrest started on Sunday evening after Somali businessman, Bishar Isaack, was arrested for allegedly shooting dead two men, believed to be Zimbabweans, outside his shop.

Issack appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Dlamini said Isaack, 39, appeared on charges of murder.

The case was postponed to June 4, when he was expected to bring a formal bail application.

After the shooting on Sunday, local residents gathered in front of Isaack’s shop, threw stones, and looted his business.

Police dispersed the crowd, but other shops were then looted. Several local businessmen then removed their goods and locked their shops.

Nine people were arrested for public violence and possession of suspected stolen goods. They appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and the case was withdrawn, Dlamini said.

In the Vaal, police received around 100 complaints about looting at both local and foreign-owned shops, following service delivery protests last week.

On Tuesday, political parties bemoaned the violence.

The African National Congress said the attacks had tarnished the country’s image.

“South Africa is a country of integrity and honour internationally, but the recent attacks on our brothers and sisters have put a dent in our image as a peaceful nation,” said ANC Gauteng spokesman Dumisa Ntuli.

The Democratic Alliance said the unrest could be blamed on a lack of employment and poverty.

“As resources become scarcer, so the competition for jobs, housing, and basic services increases. This, in turn, fuels feelings of deprivation on the part of South Africans,” said DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane.

The Inkatha Freedom Party said the attacks were sickening.

“We view the attacks… as sickening and ridiculous, especially when one remembers that 50 years ago all Africans committed themselves to building a new continent of hope, with the concept of ubuntu as a key hallmark,” said IFP Gauteng chairman Nhlanhla Msimango.

Cope spokesman Mluleki George also condemned the violence.

“The attacks are nothing but a cowardly and criminal act which only takes society backwards,” he said.

The SA Communist Party said it was shocked at the violence.

“We call upon our communities, activists and leaders of fraternal and revolutionary movements to intervene decisively in the affected communities, and work in partnership with law enforcement agencies to ensure that these barbaric, extremely backward and inhuman acts are brought to an immediate end,” said SACP spokesman Lucian Segami.

The Gauteng provincial government added its voice to the condemnation.

“These are clear acts of opportunistic crimes on a vulnerable group of Gauteng residents by a minority of hooligans living in our communities,” said premier Nomvula Mokonyane.

“We call upon all our people across the province to refrain from taking part in (the) attacks that we have seen. We must all ensure that a repeat of 2008 does not happen,” she said.

She was referring to a string of xenophobic attacks which erupted in the country five years ago. – Sapa