Foreign-owned shops looted, burnt in protest

Two men in court over public violence charges

A crowd of protesters gathered outside the Ntuzuma magistrate’s court near Durban yesterday in support of two men who were arrested on Friday in connection with looting of foreign-owned shops.

According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lt Col Thulani Zwane‚ the two men were arrested following a string of violent attacks and looting aimed at spaza shops belonging to foreign nationals operating outside Durban.

“Charges of public violence are being investigated by Inanda SAPS after a group of suspects stormed the shops at Inanda. Two shops were set alight and others were looted and damaged‚” said Zwane.

It is understood that the men are executive members of the North Region Business Association (Norba), which caters for Inanda‚ Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. The group had been engaged with the government about the presence of foreign-owned shops in their townships.

The protesters who gathered in support of the men said they wanted the government to regulate the presence of foreign nationals because “they are stealing our jobs”.

“We are here today to support our leaders who were arrested‚ they have done nothing wrong‚” said Vusimuzi Msomi‚ subcommittee chairperson of Norba in the Ntuzuma area. The two men were expected to face charges of public violence in court yesterday.