eMBALENHLE – Police have recovered items that were stolen during the service delivery protest which turned violent on Monday 25 June.
Various businesses, including the Mall@eMba, were looted during the protest.
The mall was later set alight.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/118241/police-already-arrested-35-people-protest-embalenhle/
The items recovered included groceries, furniture, building material and clothing.
More than 150 suspects were arrested in eMbalenhle alone and were charged with various crimes such as theft, arson, possession of stolen property and malicious damage to property.
About 30 suspects appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 28 June and 28 of them were released on bail and two remained in custody for confirmation of their residential address.
Const Busi Mthethwa, police spokesman, said another 11 suspects appeared in court on Friday, 29 June for burglary and were granted R500 bail each.
“We continue with our investigations and believe that more suspects will be apprehended.
“The items were recovered in various homes and some were found abandoned in the street.
“We are calling on the community to refrain from committing crime during protests.
“It is their legal right to express their feelings or to demonstrate or picket, however looting and vandalising property is a crime.”
Const Mthethwa thanked the whistle blowers and urged anyone with information to visit the eMbalenhle Police Station.
Other suspects will appear in court soon.
