Coronavirus: South Africa police fire rubber bullets at hundreds of shoppers

Billions of people all over the world are facing various degrees of lockdown in their areas or countries. As advice to observe social distancing often falls on deaf ears, many governments have stepped up measures to ensure social contact is minimised. In Malaysia, for instance, over 450 people have been arrested for flouting the country’s Movement Control Order.

A South African policeman pointing a pump rifle at shoppers in Yeoville, Johannesburg, yesterday, in an attempt to enforce safe-distancing rules outside a supermarket amid the coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Updated

Published

Mar 29, 2020, 05:00 AM

JOHANNESBURG • South African police enforcing a coronavirus lockdown yesterday fired rubber bullets at hundreds of shoppers queueing outside a supermarket in Johannesburg, an Agence France-Presse photographer said.

Between 200 and 300 people gathered outside a popular grocery store, Shoprite, early in the day in Yeoville, a crime-prone area in Johannesburg's gritty central business district on day two of the nationwide lockdown.

But as they scrambled to secure their spots, many did not observe the recommended safe distance between them.

Police arrived in 10 patrol vehicles and started firing rubber bullets at the shoppers.

Startled shoppers trampled on each other and a woman with a baby on her back fell to the ground.

Later, the police used whips to get the shoppers to observe social-distancing rules.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered South Africa's 57 million people to stay at home for 21 days and deployed the police and the military to enforce the lockdown.

But many people, especially those from poor neighbourhoods, defied the order, going out in numbers looking for food. While jogging and dog-walking are banned, shopping for food and other basics, but not alcohol, is permitted.

The country, which has 1,170 confirmed cases, recorded its first death from the virus on Friday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE