Gauteng police have arrested three suspects after two people, including a 17-year-old, were shot and injured during a protest in Hillbrow on Tuesday.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Gauteng police have confirmed that they arrested three suspects after two people, including a 17-year-old, were shot during a protest in Hillbrow.
Police allege the suspects opened fire on protesters, who reportedly retaliated by torching their vehicle.
The incident occurred on Tuesday during the June 30 nationwide protest targeting undocumented foreign nationals.
More than 20 civic groups, led by the March and March movement, called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Protests took place across all nine provinces, with organisers maintaining their demand that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country.
The organisers have set an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to self-deport.
In Gauteng, some demonstrators were carrying sjamboks and knopkieries as they marched through the streets of the City of Gold.
There was a heavy police presence on the streets, with officers equipped to respond to any threats.
While the official march ended, a splinter group of more than 1,000 protesters remained on the streets of the CBD. Tensions escalated during the march in the area, and the demonstration turned violent.
Gauteng police confirmed that a shooting occurred during the demonstration.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that three suspects were arrested after two people, including a 17-year-old, were shot and injured during a protest in Hillbrow.
“It is alleged that the trio opened fire at protesters who were passing through the street, injuring two people,” she said.
Muridili said the protesters reportedly retaliated by torching the suspects' vehicle.
“The three suspects were arrested and two licensed firearms, believed to have been used in the incident, were seized for further investigation.”
She said the suspects are expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court soon on charges of attempted murder.
This led to the deployment of the SANDF in the CBD to help maintain order following the protests.
Heavily armed soldiers were seen patrolling alongside the men and women in bleu to monitor the remaining protesters.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS), co-chaired by the South African Police Service (SAPS), State Security Agency (SSA) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), will provide an update on Wednesday following marches held across the province.
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