Police have been deployed in large numbers across KwaZulu-Natal to prevent violence and looting during the anti-illegal immigration protest marches taking place across the province. Five young suspects were arrested in connection with the burglary of a business in Mpumalanga Township, Hammarsdale, west of Durban, on Tuesday morning. In a separate incident, a shop in Mariannridge, Mariannhill, was looted on Monday evening.
Five suspects have been arrested after a series of tuck shop burglaries in Hammarsdale, as isolated incidents of looting threatened to overshadow largely peaceful June 30 protest action in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Police said officers responded swiftly to reports that a group of suspects had broken into several tuck shops along Mbutheni Main Road in Woody Glen, Unit 4, Mpumalanga Township, during the early hours of Tuesday.
One suspect was arrested inside one of the shops, while four others were caught as they attempted to flee. The suspects, aged between 14 and 27, are expected to face charges of burglary and malicious damage to property. Police said investigations are ongoing and the suspects will appear in court once they have been formally charged.
In a separate incident on Monday night, a container shop owned by a foreign national in Mariannridge, near Mariannhill, was also targeted by looters. The suspects allegedly broke the shop's padlock before making off with goods from the premises. The shop is located a short distance from the Mariannhill Police Station.
