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Soweto looting, White City – Photo via Facebook: Abdi Mohamed

Watch: Soweto looters make off with spaza shop fridge [video]

Thankfully, calm has now been restored to Soweto.

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Soweto looting, White City – Photo via Facebook: Abdi Mohamed

Looters descended on spaza shops in Soweto this week, leading to widespread violence and destruction of property.

The chaos erupted in White City on Wednesday, following a government announcement regarding unscrupulous spaza shop owners, most of whom are foreign nationals. The vendors were accused of selling ‘fake’ expired goods, which were said to be making consumers sick.

Shop owners blame the government

While shop owners are blaming the government’s hasty condemnation, the African National Congress (ANC) maintains it explicitly condemned vigilantism, saying:

 “The health and wellbeing of our people are of primary concern to the ANC. The fact that this is leading to instability and violence is a disturbing development.

Some are beginning to take the law into their own hands and are conducting their own inspection, manhandling suspects and destroying what they find to be expired and allegedly fake food products.

We call on the people not to take the law into their own hands and further encourage them to report such incidences to relevant authorities.”

But the government’s pleas were ignored; so far, three people have been killed during sporadic clashes with shop owners and police – scores more have been arrested.

Watch: Soweto looters make off with spaza shop fridge

Reports state than an innocent bystander was shot dead by a frightened store owner who was attempting to defend his shop from looters. This killing ignited a powder keg of xenophobic violence.

Violence spread outwards from White City, reaching Diepkloof and surrounds; foreign nationals hastily packed up what they could, before being escorted out of the township for fear of reprisal.

Calm restored to Soweto

The South African Police Service (SAPS) managed to restore calm to Soweto on Friday morning, following the arrests of 27 looters – two of whom are facing charges of murder.

SAPS acting national commissioner, Lieutenant General Jacob Tsumane, confirmed the return of law and order to Cape Talk, saying:

“The report is that everything is under control. We had to take in a few people yesterday for various charges. They will be appearing before the court very soon. I’m glad to announce to the community and the people of Gauteng that everything is well.

We are going to look after everyone including the foreigners because they are human beings and we will not allow people to take the law into their own hands.”