Shops were looted and goods were taken or destroyed. “I have lost almost R200,000,” said shop owner Anwar Dawe Mohammad. He was waiting outside Ermelo's police station to lay a charge.
He said he had tried to open a case earlier in the day. “I asked a policeman 'please help me my brother', but he replied ‘you are not my brother go home'.”
Ebfa Abubakara was beaten with a coke bottle when protesters stormed his shop. They pulled down his trousers and stole his shoes.
Lorato Ahmed, another shop owner, said they were certainly targeted because they were foreigners.
“My shop is in the middle of two other black-owned shops - they didn't touch them. They are still selling even now.”
Mohammad's wife Gini Abdulahi said she did not know where she would find milk to feed her young child.
“I left Somalia, all my family were killed, I came to South Africa the land of freedom. Now they say to us: “f*** you Kwerekwere this is not Somalia”.”
Polic spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlat howeveri said foreigners were not targeted during the protests.
“They are always caught up in the crossfire. It was to divert the focus of the police.”
Over 15 people were arrested on Tuesday evening for public violence.
Hlati said violence also erupted in the nearby informal settlement of Everest Park near Piet Retief where residents were also protesting against service delivery.
“The protesters were burning tyres and pelting cars with stones,” he said.
One man was found dead in a field near the informal settlement but the cause of death could not be linked to the protest.
A post mortem would be conducted on Thursday. Hlati said some police officers would work throughout the night.
“Our role is to make sure the place is safe.” -
Source: The Independent Online
