Story perspectives

Police report 24 vehicles burned, shops looted in unrest

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 3:54 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Police reported protesters torched 24 vehicles and looted shops in Soweto and Durban.
Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane said 10 vehicles burned in Soweto and 14 in Durban.
Three foreign nationals were arrested in Durban after allegedly assaulting a protester.
Police deployed rubber-bullet fire and riot units, reporting no injuries.
Government spokesperson William Baloyi said false claims about the July Constitutional Court ruling sparked unrest.

History

Historical Context

In mid-October 2015, the #FeesMustFall movement erupted at the University of Witwatersrand, spreading nationwide and forcing President Jacob Zuma to announce no tuition hikes for 2016. The protests caused roughly R600 million in property damage and prompted a Commission of Inquiry into higher education. Unresolved fee and transformation grievances have resurfaced in Soweto and Durban, where protesters again target vehicles and foreign nationals.

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Story summary

Police reported protesters torched 24 vehicles and looted shops in Soweto and Durban.
Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane said 10 vehicles burned in Soweto and 14 in Durban.
Three foreign nationals were arrested in Durban after allegedly assaulting a protester.
Police deployed rubber-bullet fire and riot units, reporting no injuries.
Government spokesperson William Baloyi said false claims about the July Constitutional Court ruling sparked unrest.

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