Foreigners’ vehicles torched in Cullinan

File image: Flickr.com

File image: Flickr.com

Published Feb 19, 2014

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Johannesburg - Three vehicles belonging to foreign shop owners have been burnt during a protest in Cullinan, east of Pretoria, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

“The violence has seen three vehicles belonging to the shopkeepers set alight. Most of the foreign nationals have been escorted out of Refilwe by the police,” said spokeswoman Captain Melissa van der Merwe.

She said four protesters had been arrested for public violence.

Police had to fire rubber bullets and use stun grenades to disperse protesters in Refilwe.

The protesters threw stones at police and the shopkeepers as the shopkeepers tried to make their way out of the area.

Residents 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.

The protest started on Tuesday.

Sapa

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