Rampaging protesters loot store, torch building

Published Oct 13, 2017

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Rustenburg - A supermarket was looted and a building torched in Tigane outside Klerksdorp, North West police said on Friday.

"Yesterday, late in the afternoon members of the community went on a rampage and set alight a building that was previously used as a satellite station. They also looted goods from a supermarket, which they allegedly burnt," Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said on Friday.

"According to information available at this stage, acts of criminality continued when goods were looted from a tuck-shop and a liquor store while an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) was damaged. 

"At this stage, the police are investigating cases of public violence and arson and no one has been arrested in these cases."  

The violence was thought to be linked to Tuesday's protests over retrenchments at the Gupta owned Shiva Uranium Mine.

During the protests, 11 people including a Councillor were arrested for malicious damage to property and public violence. Some protesters pelted police vehicles with stones and threw a petrol bomb towards a poultry abattoir.

"What happened in Tigane is pure criminality that cannot be tolerated. We would like to make it clear to those who are committing acts of violence that the long arm of the law will catch up with them," warned provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane.

African News Agency

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