BLOEMFONTEIN, Free State – What began as a planned shutdown in Rocklands escalated into violent clashes Wednesday, with police firing rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse crowds after a bottle store owned by a Chinese national was looted in the early morning hours.
Approximately 100 people have been taken in by police following the unrest, which saw community members hurling stones at officers and targeting specific businesses in the area.
A correspondent on the ground, reporting from outside the Petrus Molaela Stadium, described an atmosphere of high tension. “They are actually hurling stones at us,” the reporter said live from the scene. “The police are now getting involved with stun grenades because they have actually been telling these young people who were allegedly looting these stores in the morning to disperse.”
The looting appeared to be selective. While one bottle store owned by a Chinese national was ransacked, two other bottle stores nearby—including one owned by a South African—remained untouched. “It seems like they are selective in terms of the areas and places that they target,” the correspondent noted.
The unrest was preceded by a voice note circulating on social media calling for a shutdown in Bloemfontein and demanding that foreign nationals leave South Africa.
However, organizers of the planned action had also raised broader grievances. A correspondent outlined these concerns, which included service delivery failures, maladministration at the Mangaung Metro—which has been under administration for five years with little visible improvement—and widespread unemployment among young people lacking access to skills development.
“The residents that we have been talking to have been explaining to us that they are not part of this,” the reporter said. “They do not want to join the shutdown and secondly that they do not agree with the manner in which these shops are being looted. According to them, this is criminal elements that are getting involved.”
One resident, a law student, told the correspondent that while she condemns the looting, underlying frustrations remain. “People are really hurt,” she said. “They keep hurting people with the fake alcohol and overpriced alcohol. The police are failing to do their job. They were supposed to take this alcohol off our streets a long time ago.”
Despite the violence, the shutdown largely failed to achieve its aims. Children attended school and people went to work across most of Bloemfontein.
The correspondent observed that the action lacked visible leadership. “This is a shutdown that does not have leadership,” the reporter said. “There isn’t anyone in particular who is actually giving marching orders to the residents.”
Police remain deployed in the area guarding against further disturbances, while community members await word on whether those detained will face charges.