North West protests: Shops looted near Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom
25 April 2018
North West police say protesters have looted several shops near Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.
Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said "sporadic incidents" of looting had been experienced in Khuma, near Klerksdorp, and Ikageng near Potchefstroom on Tuesday evening.
Mokgwabone said a truck carrying fruit and vegetables was also looted in Dryharts.
"We still have our deployments to monitor and stabilise the situation. We are still urging members of the community to refrain from committing crime under the pretext of protest, as that will not be tolerated."
He said it was relatively quiet in Delareyville and Vryburg, with no incidents reported.
On Tuesday afternoon, rocks, shattered glass and JoJo Tanks lined the roads in Delareyville.
Several shops, where windows were shattered, remained closed on Wednesday.
Protesters set fire to a traffic department building and the Tekkie Town store was looted on Tuesday. On the road leading to Vryburg, protesters stoned passing cars and used slingshots against police officers.
A police Nyala later entered the area and used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the crowd.
The violence in the province has left one person dead. On Monday evening, a 16-year-old boy was killed during in protests in Taung.
