Wed 28 August 2019:
Several shops were set alight in the Pretoria CBD following violent protests that flared up on Wednesday morning.
#PretoriaCBD just took this now 8 seconds is all I could get ?? buildings getting burned down by angry protestors pic.twitter.com/PtmA2sYNua
— Corporate K?⌚? (@LysisRealz_LR) August 28, 2019
Protesters targeted shops near the corner of Brown and Lillian Ngoyi streets, looting and setting them alight.
The protest was believed to have been sparked after a clash between taxi operators and alleged drug dealers that led to the fatal shooting of a taxi driver on Tuesday.
Police sources on the ground say that taxi drivers are also causing havoc in Marabastad. Meanwhile, firefighters are still fighting building fires @TeamNews24 #PretoriaCBD pic.twitter.com/wYlgzPMJLj
— Alex Mitchley (@AlexMitchley) August 28, 2019
Firefighters were battling the blaze that has ravaged seven shops with some of them completely burnt down.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said four people were treated on the scene for minor injuries.
Images from the top. It’s burning. The protest has intensified in #PretoriaCBD by Brown and Lilian Ngoyi streets. pic.twitter.com/qJeCHEirS2
— Rams (@ThabangSays) August 28, 2019
“So far, we have counted seven shops that are affected by the fire and a number of them have burnt down completely,” he said.
Situations at PTA CBD pic.twitter.com/P6asZrxuD1
— Media Liaison: KAMOGELO (@KayTsime) August 28, 2019
Some shops, alleged to be of people dealing in drugs, were broken into and looted according to police reports.
Various law enforcement agencies were deployed to the area and shop owners were urged to close down their businesses.
Municipal public transport operations were also suspended for the day.
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