ABOUT 24 people were arrested in Mabopane, north of Tshwane, on Friday.
This happened after cops, the Tshwane Metro Police and Home Affairs engaged in Operation Thatha Zonke.
The operation was launched with the aim of reclaiming the goods looted during the week-long protests in Tshwane over the announcement of Thoko Didiza as mayoral candidate.
Goods including furniture worth thousands of rands were seized from houses in Mabopane and Soshanguve.
The raid began on Thursday and police went into people’s homes demanding to see proof of purchase.
Helicopters, police cars and trucks stormed the area in the early hours of Friday.
Some of the stolen beds, plasma TVs and DVDs were found hidden on the top of roofs, while sealed items of furniture were found inside residents’ homes.
A woman in Block EW was found sitting and drinking at a stolen table. When the police stormed into her house she arrogantly demanded to know why they were there.
“God gave me that table. Leave it alone!” she said, obstructing police in the process.
Acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane said suspects were arrested for being in possession of goods stolen from Central City and from Batho Pele malls.
Phahlane pleaded with local business to come and identify their furniture as it could not be kept in storage for long.
Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu has also spoken strongly against the looting.
“The looting and destruction of businesses reverses the gains government has been making to bring peace between local traders and those of foreign origin,” she said.
