[imagesource:here]

Over the past few weeks, the wave of attacks and looting that has gone on in provinces like Gauteng and Mpumalanga has once again captured the world’s attention.

Videos of angry crowds clashing in the streets and damaging and stealing property have been widely shared, and it’s impossible not to feel sorry for those whose businesses are being destroyed.

On Wednesday, a video filmed in Witbank, Mpumulanga, was shared that showed some shop owners fighting back, with TimesLIVE reporting:

Looters were captured in video footage making off with various items, including audio speakers, suitcases and bicycles on Wednesday.

In the footage, a shop owner can be seen allegedly grabbing a man, who slipped and fell, then delivering a sharp blow to his head with a flat hand.

Two other shop owners allegedly join in and beat up a second man. A police officer had to intervene and break up the scuffle.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, three people were arrested for looting, and some of the stolen items were recovered.

Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of these business owners for a second:

This is not a protest of any sort, it’s just sheer criminality in its plainest form.

Great how the policeman stands there, whilst the man in the yell0ow returns to grab his and others’ belongings, before sauntering off.

Of course, the above is just one incident, and there are many factors that have led us to this point.

On Sunday’s show, Carte Blanche took an in-depth look at the looting, so let’s head there:

From Pretoria to Johannesburg, South Africa’s busiest province, Gauteng has been hit by a new wave of violence, looting and pillaging of shops – the target – the country’s growing population of foreign nationals living and working in the big metros. It’s not the first time xenophobic attacks have spread through the country, but after weeks of destruction, five people reported dead and the police fully stretched out, this drawn out battle doesn’t seem to be nearing an end. Carte Blanche gets onto the streets of some of the most violent hotspots.

It makes for sombre viewing:

[sources:timeslive&carteblanche]