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South Africa violence targets Soweto's foreign-owned shops

An injured Somali shopkeeper in Soweto. South African is home to many immigrants from the rest of the continent.

Reuters An injured Somali shopkeeper looks on outside his shop in the South African township of Soweto — An injured Somali shopkeeper in Soweto. South African is home to many immigrants from the rest of the continent.

Three people have been killed in South Africa during violence on Wednesday targeting foreign-owned businesses in Soweto, police say.

Protests broke out after shopkeepers were accused of selling out-of-date and counterfeit produce, local reports say. It is thought the violence escalated after a Somali shopkeeper shot dead a teenager who allegedly tried to rob his store.

AFP Looters take items from a foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg, on August 29, 2018 — Protests broke out after shopkeepers were accused of selling out-of-date and counterfeit produce, local reports say. It is thought the violence escalated after a Somali shopkeeper shot dead a teenager who allegedly tried to rob his store.

Foreign-owned shops were looted, including this one run by an Ethiopian. Some shopkeepers are reported to have fled the area carrying the goods they managed to salvage.

AFP The Ethiopian owner of a looted grocery store in Soweto, Johannesburg, stands in his ransacked shop — Foreign-owned shops were looted, including this one run by an Ethiopian. Some shopkeepers are reported to have fled the area carrying the goods they managed to salvage.

Police have arrested 27 people in connection with the looting and violence. This has reminded many in South Africa of the gruesome attacks of May 2008, reports the BBC's Pumza Fihlani. At that time 62 people died, 41 were foreigners and 21 were South Africans.

AFP A suspected looter emerges from of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto to be detained by South African police officers in Johannesburg — Police have arrested 27 people in connection with the looting and violence. This has reminded many in South Africa of the gruesome attacks of May 2008, reports the BBC's Pumza Fihlani. At that time 62 people died, 41 were foreigners and 21 were South Africans.

Officers are investigating who fired the fatal shots in the area and say that more arrests are expected.

AFP A suspected looter is detained by South African police officers as he emerges from of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg — Officers are investigating who fired the fatal shots in the area and say that more arrests are expected.

Security has been stepped up following the protests and violence and shopkeepers were told to temporarily close their businesses.

AFP A South African police officer holds a rifle as he stands in Soweto — Security has been stepped up following the protests and violence and shopkeepers were told to temporarily close their businesses.

Some of the shopkeepers fear that there could be further violence. "There is no government here. If there was a government here, they would control these things," one is quoted as saying.

AFP A South African police officer stands in the door way of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, — Some of the shopkeepers fear that there could be further violence. "There is no government here. If there was a government here, they would control these things," one is quoted as saying.

There are lingering fears that much like in 2008, the violence could spread to other parts of the country, our correspondent says.

AFP South African police officers control the crowd in front of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg, — There are lingering fears that much like in 2008, the violence could spread to other parts of the country, our correspondent says.

The local authorities said they were looking into the allegations that the shops were selling out-of-date and counterfeit goods.

AFP Bystanders look on as a South African police officer stands near a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg — The local authorities said they were looking into the allegations that the shops were selling out-of-date and counterfeit goods.

Pictures from AFP and Reuters

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