Sheer violence and lawlessness erupted in Franschhoek over the weekend after community members raided a local shop and the commotion spilled into the streets.
Gunshots were fired by the a foreign national shop owner after 14:00 on Sunday in reaction to a group attack on his business premises, said Western Cape police spokesman WO Joseph Swartbooi.
“A group of roughly 150 disgruntled community members gathered at a local shop in the Bosbou area owned by foreign nationals and emptied the shelves. This soon boiled over into public violence.
“The owner of the shop left his premises and fired gunshots in the direction of the crowd,” Swartbooi added.
Two suspects aged 45 and 53 were arrested and detained for possession of a prohibited firearm. Two community members were also arrested and detained on a charge of public violence. “The suspects are expected to appear in the Paarl Magistrates’ Court on the charges.”
Swartbooi confirmed that this was not a xenophobic motivated incident.
Anyone with information is requested to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
