Tensions are high in Kraaifontein after more than 20 people were
arrested following rioting, looting and petrol bomb attacks in the
area.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier
Novela Potelwa said two liquor stores and a second-hand shop were looted
along Voortrekker Road on Wednesday.
“A substantial amount of cash and
yet-to-be-determined quantities of liquor were taken during the incidents,” she
said.
Further down the road, a County
Fair delivery truck had been pelted with rocks by protesters while tyres were
burning as a large crowd could be seen running along Botfontein Road. towards Kraaifontein police
station
Brigadier Potelwa said police were monitoring Bloekombos and Wallacedene.
Wallacedene councillor Simphiwe
Nonkeyizana said people protesting for various reasons, including housing,
service delivery and gang violence, had taken to the streets, and “things got out of
hand”.
The looting of shops
and rock throwing were a “collective decision and planned operation” by
protesters, he said.
An Eskom service truck was damaged
by rocks flung across the Old Paarl Road and staff managed to escape
unharmed.
Eskom spokeswoman Trish da
Silva said Eskom had decided to suspend operations in parts of Kraaifontein,
including Bloekombos, Wallacedene and Kraaifontein CBD.
She could not say when work would resume but said police and private security would escort Eskom staff when they did return to the area.