Three men have been arrested and are scheduled to appear in court following an overnight looting spree that targeted foreign-owned businesses in the Waterberg District.
The incidents occurred between 21:00 on Wednesday, 03 June 2026, and 02:00 on Thursday, 04 June 2026, in Regorogile Extension 6 and the Matikiring Informal Settlement near Thabazimbi.
Police responded to complaints of public violence as unknown community members looted tuckshops owned by foreign nationals. During the unrest, officers were pelted with stones and were forced to disperse the crowds using rubber bullets. Three police vehicles were damaged by the thrown stones, though no officers sustained injuries.
A total of six tuckshops in the Matikiring Informal Settlement were looted, resulting in an estimated R394,000 in combined damages and stolen groceries.
Following the incident, police apprehended three male suspects, aged between 19 and 23. Authorities also recovered allegedly looted items, including a 32-inch television and three packets of ice pops. The suspects are expected to appear at the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 08 June 2026, facing charges of public violence.
Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, stated that the arrests must serve as a clear deterrent against lawlessness. She emphasized that police will not tolerate intimidation or property damage linked to planned gatherings, specifically noting upcoming marches directed against foreign nationals scheduled for Monday.
“Police will be deployed to all identified hotspot areas across the province to prevent looting and ensure public safety,” Hadebe said. “We are not policing marches; we are preventing criminality. Anyone who engages in violence or destruction of property will face arrest and prosecution.”
Police investigations into the looting spree are ongoing, and further arrests are expected.
