Overview
- The National Service Delivery Forum organised a shutdown to protest undocumented migrants, unemployment, water shortages, crime, corruption and poor roads and public transport.
- What began as road blockades and a shutdown quickly turned into looting that disproportionately hit immigrant-run spaza shops with videos showing people carrying away groceries.
- Police reported more than 142 arrests for looting and for throwing stones at police and vehicles during the unrest.
- Public transport stalled when buses and taxis stopped after being attacked, leaving many commuters to walk home and parents to keep children from school.
- NSDF leader Potso Motoko denied ordering looting, said the group tried to stop opportunistic criminality and warned the shutdown will be intensified if authorities do not respond, while residents cite hunger and lack of jobs as drivers of the violence.