News24.com | AS IT HAPPENED | Police warn motorists to avoid looted areas in Joburg as situation remains tense

AS IT HAPPENED | Police warn motorists to avoid looted areas in Joburg as situation remains tense

2019-09-02 12:17

Police are battling protesters in Johannesburg.

Follow @ntwaagae Protests rock Johannesburg.
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Last Updated at 05:46
12:18

Protesters loot Joburg shops as cops rally to quell unrest across parts of Gauteng

Protesters in Turffontein, Johannesburg, looted shops as they demonstrated in the area on Monday morning.
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31 people arrested for looting, setting shops and cars alight in Johannesburg CBD

Thirty-one people have been arrested since violent protests erupted in the Johannesburg CBD.
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Police couldn't assist shop owners, Johannesburg residents claim. SAFM report
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Police have their hands full trying to disperse crowds. Looters have fought back throwing stones and rocks. Foreign nationals fear for their lives. - SAfm reports.
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More than 40 people in total have been arrested, and over 50 vehicles set alight. - SAfm reports.
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More police enforcement have been deployed to Turffontein, much calmer atmophere being restored. Police were still, a short while ago, pushing back crowds with rubber bullets. Shop owners have now moved in to salvage what is left. - SABC reporter Gillian Pillay tells SAfm.
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Under the watchful eye of police and media, they have removed remainder of stock in shops attacked, other shops have been completely looted. - SABC reporter Gillian Pillay tells SAfm.
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Situation still remains volatile, although much calmer. Police were overwhelmed. The media feared for their safety and were too scared to take out cameras - SABC reporter Gillian Pillay tells SAfm.
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Cleveland SAPS spokesperson Capt Johann Jordaan spoke to Joburg East Express about the unrest:

- It is described as a tense situation in the area. Can't say exactly where it's coming from, cannot be 100% sure, says Jordaan. 

- Extent of damage thus far: The damage to property is very bad. A murder has taken place as well, however, police can't say for sure if it is linked to the looting at this point in time. 

- Police encourage people to stay home and avoid looted areas for safety purposes.

- A lot of public order police in the area as well as metro police. 
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Police managed to contain looting in Thembisa East - SAfm reports.
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SABC News journalist Sashin Naidoo on SAfm reporting from Jeppestown:

- Described as "extremely tense, out of control". Police are trying to do their best. Long lines at the police station. People have been attacked, robbed. EMS overwhelmed. Things are getting out of hand. Police say from information they have that a building was set on fire last night where 3 people lost their lives.

- More than 50 people have been arrested at this point. More than 100 cars burned, and 50 shops looted. Cannot say situation is under control. 
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Protesting through central JHB, close to Bree Street taxi rank. 
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An SABC news vehicle has been attacked in Jeppe during the looting.
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Police open fire as foreign-owned places are looted.
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The situation is went "out of control" and "volatile" in Hillbrow. Police officers have used tear gas to disperse the protests. People have responded by throwing stones at the police officers. 
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Several shops are now closed in the area and people are moving in different directions. Protesters have also blocked roads with burning tyres.
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Traffic is heavily congested in Pretoria as some roads are closed.
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Johannesburg is filled with a lot of "chaos and confusion".
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Statement from the office of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits

"The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) strongly condemns the violence and looting which has taken place recently in the Pretoria CBD and the Johannesburg CBD and surrounding areas. These acts are unacceptable, inhumane and a clear violation of the law and basic human rights," the statement reads. 
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Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Joburg had to withdraw from their duties due to the aggressive nature of looters. This follows after a shop was set alight in Bree Steet close to the taxi rank.
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