10 arrested for Cape Town looting spree
Ten people were arrested on Tuesday in connection with several looting sprees across the province.
Mitchells Plain in Cape Town was rocked by protests over the expected delivery of food parcels.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa says there were several incidents of violence in the city, despite the national lockdown.
“Community members took to the streets voicing their dissatisfaction on the distribution of food parcels. They barricaded roads, they burned tyres and they pelted police officers with stones.
“Our public order policing members arrested three suspects on charges of public violence.”
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The officers, stationed in Bonnievale, allegedly robbed a liquor store at the weekend. They were arrested on Monday and appeared in the Swellendam Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. They have been charged with defeating the ends of justice, theft, unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, dealing in liquor and contravening Disaster Management Regulations.
Later that day, at least 16 suspects stormed two businesses in Manenberg, fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash and groceries.
Another 3 suspects were arrested in that incident.
“We immediately launched tracing operation as the SAPS. They were found with some of the items that were stolen from the shop,” Potelwa adds.
In a third incident, a business in Gatesville was looted and four suspects were arrested.
“All arrested are expected to appear in various courts on the charges that I’ve already cited, included public violence, burglary and possession of stolen property,” Potelwa says.
Cape Town - #Looting and community unrest in the Manenberg area #Day19ofLockdown pic.twitter.com/u15Zl6wigq
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) April 14, 2020