"News PlatformNG" has learned that several shops owned by foreign nationals were looted in Estcourt in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Friday morning, May 29, 2026, in an incident police say may be linked to ongoing tensions surrounding undocumented foreign business owners in the town.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Lt-Col Robert Netshiunda, confirmed that six foreign-owned shops were targeted during the unrest. He said calm had since been restored and no injuries were reported.
"Police are assessing the situation for further investigations and police visibility will be maintained in the area," Netshiunda said.
According to police, the looting appears to have occurred amid growing tensions following a court challenge against Estcourt Mayor Mduduzi Myeza. The mayor had previously issued a 21-day ultimatum directing undocumented foreign national business owners to leave the town, with the deadline expiring on Wednesday, May 27.
The affected business owners took legal action against Myeza on Monday, May 26, seeking relief from the directive.
Netshiunda said a meeting had been scheduled for Friday afternoon involving the mayor's office, police officials, and the owners of the building housing the looted shops.
The meeting is expected to address tensions between local residents, foreign nationals, and authorities, as officials work to prevent further unrest in the area.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!