Soweto police struggled on Monday as ‘protesters’ looted stores and businesses in South Africa’s largest township.

The Soweto Urban reports that after looting stores in Maponya Mall in Pimville, and being forced to flee by the police, protesters turned their attention to local businesses surrounding the mall.

Several businesses were ransacked. Looters forced their way into shops along Mohloka Street in Pimville and left with meat, fridges and furniture, among other stolen goods.

Shoprite’s Liquor Store, and Meli’s Lounge were reportedly some of the hardest to be hit by the looters. According to the Soweto Urban, the efforts of the police to quell the chaos were futile as protesters outnumbered them. Elsewhere in Soweto, looters attacked Dobsonville Mall, Jabulani Mall and Protea Gardens Mall as so-called protesters rushed in to loot.

Meanwhile, the Sowetan Live reports that hordes of men, women and even children could be seen running towards the direction of Jabulani mall to loot. Residents of Jabulani used shopping trolleys to move the goods out of the mall.

Dobsonville Mall was closed for business on Monday following looting on Sunday night and early Monday morning. City Press reports that small children, pensioners and the youth were among those who joined in the looting at Protea Gardens Mall. The malls steel gates were destroyed by the looters in order to enter. According to City Press, cars, vans and even dustbins were brought in which to load the looted goods, with small children being left outside by their parents to watch over their stolen acquisitions. Officers arrived in just one van, and so were outnumbered.

Umm Muhammed Umar