At least seven families were left to pick up the pieces of what was left of their belongings out in the cold in Diepkloof.

Scenes of looting and forceful evictions of families accused of living in drug dens played out in Soweto on Wednesday where foreign-owned spaza shops were also attacked overnight.

At least seven families were left to pick up the pieces of what was left of their belongings out in the cold in Diepkloof where scores of community members went house to house evicting people.

The community had gathered under the banner of the so-called operation Dudula, which targeted people they said were illegal foreigners running spaza shops and selling goods in the township. On Tuesday night, after the circulation of a poster calling for the forceful removal of foreign nationals, several spaza shops in Mofolo South and Naledi were looted.

Gauteng police spokesperson Cpt Kay Makhubele said a 21-year-old man was shot during the violence and police arrested three shop owners in connection with the shooting.

“The shop owners were found in possession of an unlicensed fire arm and ammunition. However, one of them was charged with attempted murder,” Makhubele said. “Investigations are ongoing and cases of malicious damage to property are being investigated.”

On Wednesday in Diepkloof, Mozambican Americo Vasco Maute and his family were left homeless after community members raided the old post office building he lives in and said it was hijacked by drug lords who rent it out to foreigners.

This after community members marched to an area called Baghdad, where houses were identified for allegedly dealing in drugs. The houses were searched but nothing was found.

A distraught Maute said he had nowhere to go.

“I don’t have anywhere to go but I’ll make a plan for my wife and eight-month-old baby to find shelter because what happened here was criminality. I’m just a tenant here who pays R500 a month,” he said.

“Our clothes and furniture were looted and we have been staying here for two years.”

Another victim, Constance Membere, a street vendor, said she was called to rush back home by her neighbours because of the looting.

At least seven families were left to pick up the pieces of what was left of their belongings out in the cold in Diepkloof

Scenes of looting and forceful evictions of families accused of living in drug dens played out in Soweto on Wednesday where foreign-owned spaza shops were also attacked overnight.

At least seven families were left to pick up the pieces of what was left of their belongings out in the cold in Diepkloof where scores of community members went house to house evicting people.

The community had gathered under the banner of the so-called operation Dudula, which targeted people they said were illegal foreigners running spaza shops and selling goods in the township. On Tuesday night, after the circulation of a poster calling for the forceful removal of foreign nationals, several spaza shops in Mofolo South and Naledi were looted.

Gauteng police spokesperson Cpt Kay Makhubele said a 21-year-old man was shot during the violence and police arrested three shop owners in connection with the shooting.

“The shop owners were found in possession of an unlicensed fire arm and ammunition. However, one of them was charged with attempted murder,” Makhubele said. “Investigations are ongoing and cases of malicious damage to property are being investigated.”

On Wednesday in Diepkloof, Mozambican Americo Vasco Maute and his family were left homeless after community members raided the old post office building he lives in and said it was hijacked by drug lords who rent it out to foreigners.

This after community members marched to an area called Baghdad, where houses were identified for allegedly dealing in drugs. The houses were searched but nothing was found.

A distraught Maute said he had nowhere to go.

“I don’t have anywhere to go but I’ll make a plan for my wife and eight-month-old baby to find shelter because what happened here was criminality. I’m just a tenant here who pays R500 a month,” he said.

“Our clothes and furniture were looted and we have been staying here for two years.”

Another victim, Constance Membere, a street vendor, said she was called to rush back home by her neighbours because of the looting.