Chaos spreads in South Africa as authorities struggle to contain looting, violence
Fox News
Tens of thousands of people branded as ‘opportunistic criminals’ smashing down the doors of the city’s largest malls and stores – including several huge discount stores which are part of the U.S. chain Walmart – and literally emptying them of everything.
Durban’s local police have moved in where they can. But they’ve reportedly been told to stop arresting people, as holding cells are full. Nationally, 800 have been arrested. But on the single highway leading into Durban’s poor Kwa Mashu district alone, well over 800 vehicles were seen loaded with stolen products, driving openly through the city. The area around Johannesburg known as Gauteng has seen an almost equal level of chaos. Police are reported to have run out of rubber bullets and stun grenades, and had to withdraw from Johannesburg’s second-largest township, Alexandra, leaving the looters to literally run riot. In the country’s largest township, Soweto, on the Southern side of Johannesburg, shops in four of the five largest malls have been destroyed. Ten suspected looters were killed Tuesday in Soweto in a stampede of people allegedly wanting to get at produce in a mall.More Related News