The street battle between police and enraged street vendors
in the Johannesburg CBD could have ended
in a "bloodbath", police said on Friday.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters
said officers "tactically withdrew" from the intelligence-driven
operation targeting counterfeit goods in downtown Johannesburg on Thursday to
avoid being forced to use live ammunition.
This after a violent crowd of street vendors pelted
officers and armoured vehicles with bottles, bricks and petrol bombs in
retaliation for the raids.
"Due to the volatility of the situation, police
retreated to avoid a situation where they would be forced to use live
ammunition," Peters said in a statement.
"Of priority at this point was ensuring that there was
no bloodshed or death."
She said no officers were injured, but two people and one
paramedic sustained serious injuries.
Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela said
such "lawlessness cannot be allowed to go unpunished".
Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko condemned the
attack on law enforcement.
"We can’t co-govern with criminals, especially foreign
nationals who want to turn our country into a lawless banana republic.
"We will assert our authority and show ungovernable
foreign nationals that there are laws in South Africa and they must be
respected," Mazibuko said.
Gauteng premier David Makhura promised to come down hard on
foreigners who attacked police officers.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday night, Makhura said:
"Some foreign nationals who sell counterfeit goods and occupy buildings
illegally in the Joburg CBD attacked our police with bottles and petrol bombs.
This despicable crime against our state will never be tolerated."
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