Gauteng police commissioner blames Pretoria looting on ‘criminal elements’
Gauteng police commissioner Elias Mawela has blamed the looting and burning of shops in the Pretoria CBD on criminal elements.
Mawela visited the CBD after widespread protests by taxi drivers on Wednesday.
At least seven shops belonging to foreign nationals were burned to the ground.
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On Tuesday, a 45-year-old taxi driver was shot and killed after the protesting drivers clashed with the alleged drug dealers.
The taxi drivers maintain they are merely assisting law enforcement in identifying drug hotspots.
"These people know there was an issue near the taxi rank, that is why they're pushing their agenda next to the taxi rank, so that they can divert us to believe it's taxi drivers doing this thing," Mawela said.
Scores of people took to the streets on Wednesday, looting shops and burning some to the ground.