The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service has called upon the community of Soshanguve, Extension 6 north of Pretoria to be calm and tolerant following the death of two community members. The National Commissioner has in the same breath condemned those killings as well as the attack on police officers and the burning of private property.
It is alleged that protests in Soshanguve Extension 6 resulted in the blockading of a road at the taxi exchange spot in Nkandla informal settlement near M20 Road. It is reported that at about 06:00 this morning the protesters stopped and ultimately burnt a truck with a cargo of cutlery worth an estimated R700 000. The area is within the policing precinct of Akasia police station. When the police responded to the scene, they were attacked and one of the members sustained gunshot wounds to both his legs. The member was taken to hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition.
The protesters proceeded to loot the liquor store on Doreng Street. During that time the Public Order Police members arrived on the scene and two protesters were arrested for public violence. The police managed to stabilise the situation at Doreng Street. However, later in the day the protesters continued with their intentions to loot and it is alleged that during the commotion at one of the shops, the owner fatally shot a 35 year old man and fled the scene. When police responded to this scene their vehicle was attacked and damaged.
The protesters proceeded to a house in Extension 5 where they broke in and stole musical equipment and set the house alight. The police responded and discovered a body of a 30 year old man across the street from the burnt house.
The National Commissioner has condemned the attack on the police as well as the death of the two protesters.
“A multidisciplinary Task Team which includes Crime Intelligence and seasoned detectives has been mobilised to investigate the attack on police, the death of the two protesters and the burning of the truck and private home. We have to bring those responsible to book as such behaviour is criminal and unacceptable,” said General Sitole.
The National Commissioner went on to appeal to community leaders to try and resolve their dissatisfaction with the relevant stakeholders in an amicable manner. “I call on the community of Soshanguve to be calm as public violence is no solution to any problem but rather a crime which is punishable by law,” added General Sitole.
The situation in Soshanguve is now reported to be stable and calm.
The Public Order Police will continue monitor the situation and to bring the area to normalisation. The police’s crime scene management which include Local Criminal Record Centre, Crime Scene Investigators as well as Senior Tshwane Region Management visited the scene to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the quest to trace and apprehend all perpetrators that masqueraded as protesters while advancing their criminal and violent activities that took the lives of two protesters.
The two arrested protesters will be appearing in court soon facing a charge of public violence.
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