Foreign-owned shops in Sharpeville closed amid protests
Foreign-owned spaza shops in Sharpeville closed their doors on Friday amid threats by angry residents.
On Thursday, residents in the Vaal Triangle looted shops following the murder of a local businessman.
The community has blamed the death of the man on foreign shop owners.
Local ward councillor Mpho Serapelo said a meeting was held between the chair of the Gauteng legislature’s community safety committee, Bandile Masuku, the Sharpeville police station commander and others.
Serapelo told Jacaranda FM News that Sharpeville councillors agreed that all foreign-owned shops must be closed.
“On Saturday, we will have a meeting with the police and landlords of these shops. Then, on Monday, there will be a follow-up meeting with the entire community to discuss a way forward,” he said.
Serapelo said residents want the shops to close permanently.
Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the arrest of at least five people for public violence.
The Public Order Policing and Crime Prevention units also arrested three foreign nationals who were found in possession of unlicensed firearms.
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