Convoy fire-bombings ‘all about business’

2015/02/27 Majore general Theko Pharasi addresses the media at the Moroka Police Station in Soweto on the recent foreign shop attacks and protests that took place in Soweto this week. Picture:Paballo Thekiso

2015/02/27 Majore general Theko Pharasi addresses the media at the Moroka Police Station in Soweto on the recent foreign shop attacks and protests that took place in Soweto this week. Picture:Paballo Thekiso

Published Feb 28, 2015

Share

Johannesburg -

They came in a convoy of 12 vehicles including cars, bakkies and Kombis.

Armed with petrol bombs, the group terrorised foreign shop owners in Dobsonville, Snake Park and Bramfischerville.

Residents in the areas claim they don’t know the culprits, nine of whom were arrested this week.

SAPS Major-General Theko Pharasi said on Friday that the violence was all about business competition.

“But we cannot specify which business people are involved. We arrested nine suspects on Thursday in Snake Park, Dobsonville, after a foreign shop owner was cornered and petrol-bombed while inside his shop.”

He said the suspects were due to appear in the Dobsonville Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence, attempted murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

The shop owner, a Somali national, had burns on his arms and torso after the suspects flung the petrol bomb into his shop in an attempt to force him to close it down after he refused.

Sifiso Dlamini, a resident of Bramfischerville, said the violence against the foreigners was initiated by the communities themselves.

“We are stuck in a business war between Soweto business people and foreign shop owners,” he said.

Dlamini said residents were surprised when the convoy stopped at the shop and brazenly hurled petrol bombs on to the blue container rented by the Somali man.

Police have deployed crime intelligence operatives to help identify criminal elements involved in the community unrest this week.

[email protected]

Saturday Star

Related Topics: