Foreigners escorted out of Cullinan

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Published Feb 19, 2014

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Johannesburg - Police were on Wednesday escorting foreign shop owners out of Cullinan, east of Pretoria, to protect them from protesters.

“Vehicles are being used to transport the foreign shop owners and their belongings out of Refilwe,” spokeswoman Captain Melissa van der Merwe said.

“Police had to use stun grenades to disperse the protesting residents as they wanted to stop and attack the shop owners.”

The protests started on Tuesday. Residents of Refilwe were angry after a foreign shop owner allegedly assaulted a 10-year-old child, who later died in hospital. The child was assaulted for apparently stealing sweets. Locals then looted shops owned by foreigners and barricaded the roads.

Earlier, a white Isuzu bakkie was trying to get out of the area and the occupants fired shots at protesters blocking their way.

“Luckily no one was injured or shot at,” said Van der Merwe.

Police were monitoring the area. - Sapa

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