BLOEMFONTEIN, Free State – Community members in the Rocklands area of Bloemfontein allegedly looted a local bottle store and several other shops on Wednesday morning, leading to violent confrontations as police fired rubber bullets and used stun grenades to disperse crowds.
According to police, approximately 100 people have been taken in connection with the looting.
Reporting from outside the Petrus Molaela Stadium, a correspondent on the ground described the scene as “very tense,” with protesters hurling stones at officers. “This is what has been happening the whole time,” the reporter said, noting that police were forced to escalate their response.
The bottle store that was targeted in the early morning hours is owned and managed by a Chinese national. Notably, two other bottle stores in the immediate vicinity—one owned by a South African—were not looted. “It seems like they are selective in terms of the areas and places that they target,” the correspondent reported.
The unrest follows a voice note circulating on social media calling for a shutdown in Bloemfontein and demanding that foreign nationals leave South Africa.
However, organizers had also raised several legitimate grievances, including service delivery failures, maladministration at the Mangaung Metro, and rampant unemployment. The municipality has been under administration for approximately five years, yet residents report no improvement in services or financial management.
“Young people are not working, not having access to skills development,” the reporter said, summarizing the concerns raised by those behind the shutdown.
Despite the unrest, the shutdown largely failed to disrupt daily life. Children attended school and people went to work in most parts of Bloemfontein.
One resident, a law student, told the reporter that while she does not support looting, residents are “really hurt” by businesses selling overpriced alcohol, fake alcohol, and alcohol laced with drugs. “The police are failing to do their job. They were supposed to take this alcohol off our streets a long time ago,” she said. “They’re beating our people, taking all these Chinese people and protecting them.”
Other residents interviewed distanced themselves from the violence, describing the looters as “criminal elements” and, according to unconfirmed reports, possibly gang members.
The correspondent noted that the shutdown appeared to lack clear leadership. “There isn’t anyone in particular who is actually giving marching orders to the residents,” the reporter observed.
Police remain in the area guarding against further disturbances, while community members are demanding to know whether those arrested will be charged or released.