Cape Town - Western Cape police fired rubber bullets to disperse about 400 Riviersonderend residents who went on a rampage, attacking and looting shops owned by Somali nationals.
"It was not a xenophobic attack. Residents were angry because police had found a body of a 20-year-old in the bushes. The man was reported missing in December and was last seen with Somalis," Inspector November Filander said on Tuesday.
The residents mobilised and submitted a request for a march, but the municipality denied them permission. Residents went ahead anyway and police intervened when the march turned violent and the locals started looting Somali-owned shops at 20:00 on Monday.
Police fired rubber bullets at the crowd, injuring one person.
A 30-year-old woman was arrested for public violence.
About 20 Somali nationals fled to the local police station for refuge.
Police managed to calm the situation down at 22:00 and they kept a strong presence in the area, securing shops owned by Somalis.
On Tuesday morning the Somalians moved to neighbouring areas.
