Police in the North West say two cars were set alight and several shops were looted in and around Mahikeng on Thursday night.
The Mmabana Arts Foundation building was also partly torched. Residents have embarked on protests since Wednesday.
They are demanding the resignation of Premier Supra Mahumapelo.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwaabone says, “We can confirm that we experienced an attempt to burn Mmabana Foundation building, but fortunately that building was partially burned. We also had an incident where a guard house as well as a car at the Department of Education were set alight and another car was also torched at the Department of Public Works.”
He says, “Shops belonging to foreign nationals were also looted. We can also confirm that a bottle store opposite Megacity was also looted.”
Mokgwaabone says since Wednesday, 16 people have been arrested and are facing charges of public violence.
“We arrested nine suspects on the 18th and the rest on Thursday. So the suspects that were arrested on the 18th appeared at the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Thursday but were released on warning. They will all appear before the court on Tuesday, the 29th of May.”
For the latest on the situation in the North West watch below…
