2h ago

Soldiers, police recover stolen items in Sebokeng informal settlement, arrests made

Share
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Stolen food items hidden inside a freezer at Boiketlong informal settlement in Sebokeng.
Stolen food items hidden inside a freezer at Boiketlong informal settlement in Sebokeng.
@ntwaagae, Twitter
  • Members of the SA Police Service and SA National Defence Force are in Sebokeng, Emfuleni.
  • They have been deployed there to recover items that were looted during the recent unrest in parts of SA.
  • So far, clothing, alcohol, audio systems as well as hardware materials have been seized.

"Vula (open), vula. If not, we will break down the door," police officers, soldiers and security guards shouted when residents refused to open their doors in Boiketlong informal settlement, Sebokeng.

They were there to recover items that had been stolen during unrest and looting in parts of South Africa.

The officers swooped in and tried to recover as many items as they could.

A woman was found in possession of audio systems, toiletries and alcohol, which she had hidden inside her couches.

"We looted malls for two days using cars," she admitted.

The woman was later arrested.

Inside her one-room shack, police also recovered new clothing items, food and more alcohol.

The operation then moved to another shack, which officers also emptied.

The blue shack was well furnished. Police suspect that the furniture was stolen.

Stolen food items hidden inside a freezer at Boike
Stolen food items hidden inside a freezer at Boiketlong informal settlement in Sebokeng.

Six large solar panels and shopping trolleys were also confiscated and two elderly women were found in possession of drums of home-brewed alcohol, which police officers emptied. The two neighbours claimed that they used pineapples to brew the alcohol.

An elderly man who was arrested after hardware materials were found in his shack, claimed his son had stolen the items. There were so many items that they filled a police truck.

Police trucks moved in and out of the settlement as they recovered what they could.

So far, a handful of people have been arrested.

Do you want to know more about this topic? Sign up for one of News24's 33 newsletters to receive the information you want in your inbox. Special newsletters are available to subscribers.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For only R75 per month, you have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.
Subscribe to News24