Peace in Bophelong, a township near Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng, was disturbed as violence and looting swept through the township last night, leaving chaos in its wake.

Angry residents, seemingly undiscouraged by warnings from Sedibeng deputy police commissioner Brigadier Mbangwa Nkwashu engaged in a night of mayhem and destruction.

The spark for this unfortunate incident was a feedback meeting held at the Bophelong community hall yesterday, where Nkhwashu expressed his concerns about the region turning into a ‘banana republic’.

Rather than noting his words, a part of the community decided to take matters into their own hands.

As the sun set, hours after the meeting, residents from Extension 15 descended upon foreign-owned shops, embarking on a destructive rampage.

The situation escalated rapidly, with scores of individuals looting shops and even setting a Toyota Quantum ablaze.

As the night went on, the chaos showed no signs of lessening, and the township descended into a state of disorder with lootings spreading from shop to shop.

Gunshots from Public Order Police echoed through the night, adding an even more sinister dimension to the unfolding events, and police having their hands full.

When some residents woke this morning, they were met with scenes of destruction, despair, and an atmosphere of fear that had gripped the township.

Meeting held

Early before the mayhem, a heated exchange during the feedback meeting between Nkhwashu and Blessing Motaung – a vocal concerned resident – arose.

This, after Motaung told police management, councillors, and other law enforcers who came in their numbers that all the residents want, is an answer to whether foreign-owned shops will be closed.

His robust engagement was sparked by feedback coming from Nkhwashu that they [law enforcement agencies] took operation Okae Molao to Bophelong and served 72 businesses with notices for compliance.

“This feedback meeting shouldn’t be about an update session. Our request wasn’t a command to the government to start enforcing compliance issues. All we want to know is whether foreign-owned shops are going to continue to operate or [if] you are closing them,” he said.

Responding to Motaung’s question, Nkhwashu said: “The government doesn’t have the power to evacuate people, so we can close down foreign shops even if we wanted. I am not going to stop you from doing what you think is right, unless you do a crime.

“Whatever action you want to take, just make sure there is no violence or lawlessness involved. As soon as you contravene any law, you’ll be fighting the government, and we will respond accordingly. I am not going to allow you to turn this region into a banana republic,” he said.

Nkhwashu’s response saw one shop being closed during the afternoon swiftly after the law enforcers left the hall.