Foreign-owned spaza shops in the township areas of Jeffrey’s Bay remain closed in the aftermath of the violent protest that occurred on Thursday.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, says public order has been restored, and the closure of the shops is a precautionary measure.
She says the police are maintaining a high level of visibility.
The violent protest resulted in 69 arrests on charges of public violence.
The suspects will appear in court in Humansdorp on Monday.
At least 23 spaza shops were also looted during the violence.
Gantana says, “Police visibility remains high, with Public Order Policing and Visible Policing units still deployed to deter any further unrest and ensure the safety of all residents. The Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata, has directed the district to intensify search-and-seizure operations to recover looted property.
“Investigators are also actively probing the role of the march leaders in instigating Thursday’s violence, with the possibility of further arrests as the investigation unfolds. Clarification has also been issued regarding a house fire that was widely reported in connection with the protests. The structure was not burned as a result of any protest action, but rather due to an electrical fault”, she adds.
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