Gauteng police on Wednesday confirmed that two people were shot and killed in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, this as several shops were looted in the area overnight.
Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said no arrests had been made in connection with the deaths.
“I can confirm that two people were shot and killed. We haven’t arrested anybody yet,” said Kweza.
The two were allegedly part of a mob attempting to rob a Pakistani-owned shop in the location.
Kweza said by Wednesday morning, police had arrested more than 40 people following incidents of violence amid continuing protests across Pretoria.
“Some of the people were arrested in Atteridgeville, Hercules, Mabopane, Soshanguve and Mamelodi. They will appear in court soon. They have been charged with public violence, theft and possession of stolen property,” said Kweza.
Appealing for calm in the strife-riddled areas, Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lt-General Deliwe De Lange said “the lawlessness happening in various areas in Tshwane will not be tolerated”.
Streets across numerous Pretoria townships were still littered with dirt, tree branches and rubble on Wednesday, forcing motorists to drive on sidewalks.
In Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, disgruntled African National Congress (ANC) members were no longer protesting on the streets but the roads were heavily littered with loads of dirt.
Scrap metal dealers had stripped parts from a heavy delivery truck which was torched on Tuesday along WF Nkomo Street, leading into Atteridgeville.
In Soshanguve and Mabopane, north of Pretoria, calm prevailed on Wednesday morning despite reports of shops being looted overnight.
The streets were, however, strewn with debris. Motorists were also negotiating their way through the piles of dirt and bricks on the roads. Taxis were moving freely on the streets.
Violence erupted in Pretoria on Sunday as news filtered in indicating that former cabinet minister Thoko Didiza would be named as the city’s mayoral candidate for the ANC, ahead of incumbent Tshwane Mayor and ANC regional chairman Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
Residents said they were not happy with Didiza and wanted Ramokgopa to remain in his position.
Ramokgopa and his regional ANC deputy chairman Mapiti Matsena distanced themselves from the protests this week and condemned the violence. They called on residents to accept the mayoral candidacy and rally behind Didiza.
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