Limpopo police have issued a stern warning against lawlessness and deployed officers to hotspots across the province following a violent overnight looting spree that targeted foreign-owned businesses in the Waterberg District.
The unrest unfolded between 21:00 on Wednesday, 03 June 2026, and 02:00 on Thursday, 04 June 2026, in Regorogile Extension 6 and the Matikiring Informal Settlement. According to authorities, mobs targeted and ransacked tuckshops owned by foreign nationals.
Officers arriving at the scene to quell the public violence were met with a barrage of stones. In response, police utilized rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. While three police vehicles sustained damage from the thrown stones, no officers were injured.
However, the financial toll on the community was heavy. A total of six tuckshops in the Matikiring Informal Settlement were looted, with stolen groceries and property damage totaling an estimated R394,000.
Following the chaotic night, law enforcement apprehended three male suspects, aged between 19 and 23. During the operation, police recovered a 32-inch television and three packets of ice pops allegedly stolen during the riots. The trio is slated to make their first appearance at the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 08 June 2026, charged with public violence.
Addressing the unrest, Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe emphasized that the recent arrests should act as a strong deterrent. She drew a hard line against any criminal activity masked as protests, specifically referencing a series of marches against foreign nationals planned to commence on Monday, 08 June 2026.
“These arrests must serve as a clear deterrent. Police will not tolerate lawlessness, intimidation, nor damage to property linked to any planned gathering or march, including those directed against foreign nationals scheduled from Monday, 08 June 2026,” Hadebe stated.
Clarifying the police mandate amidst the planned protests, she added, “Police will be deployed to all identified hotspot areas across the province to prevent looting and ensure public safety. We are not policing marches; we are preventing criminality. Anyone who engages in violence or destruction of property will face arrest and prosecution.”
To ensure public safety and prevent further looting, Hadebe confirmed that a heightened police presence will be maintained in all identified hotspot areas across Limpopo. Meanwhile, investigations into the Matikiring looting remain active, with authorities indicating that further arrests are expected.