Johannesburg - A woman was arrested on Friday for possession of stolen groceries in Kagiso, where a man was shot dead and another wounded following attacks on foreign-owned shops, Gauteng police said.
The 46-year-old was arrested by police acting on a tip-off that she had goods stolen from a spaza shop in Sinqobile, on the West Rand, Warrant Officer Solomon Sibiya said. She lives next door to the shop.
“The 1/8police 3/8 proceeded into a certain house and upon arrival they met a woman in her early 30s leaving the place. She told the police that there was no other person in the house,” Sibiya said.
“The police then proceeded to the back yard shack where they found the 46-year-old suspect hiding with groceries worth thousands of rands.”
A second load of groceries was found in the house.
The woman is expected to appear in the Kagiso Magistrate's Court on Monday. It was not clear whether the looting was related to the unrest in Soweto.
Looting of foreign-owned shops in Soweto began on Monday when a Somalian man allegedly shot dead a 14-year-old boy accused of being part of a group trying to break into his store.
Gauteng police commissioner Lt-General Lesetja Mothiba said the looting had since spread to Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, and Kagiso, on the West Rand.
Sibiya said a 61-year-old bystander died when a foreigner fired at a crowd stoning his shop in Swaneville on Thursday night.
“A man who alleged that he was with the deceased during the shooting told the police that they were playing snooker at a nearby tavern when they heard noise outside,” he said.
“They then went out to investigate and that is when they noticed members of the community stoning the shop.
“During the stoning the shopowner allegedly fired shots through the window in the direction of the crowd.”
The man was shot in the chest and died on arrival at hospital. No arrests had been made and a murder case had been opened.
Earlier on Thursday, in Tshepisong, a man was wounded while allegedly trying to break into a spaza shop belonging to a foreigner.
“It is alleged that a group of youths attacked a spaza shop and started to break in. They allegedly tried to force open the garage roller door whilst the shop owner was inside,” he said.
“As soon as they managed to open the roller door, the owner came out with a firearm in his hand. He then fired shots directed at the crowd.”
The group scattered. Sibiya said one of them was wounded in the upper body. He was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Sibiya was unable to provide the injured man's age.
“The foreign national... was arrested and detained at Kagiso police station. The firearm used was also confiscated.”
Sapa