Watch: Security vehicle overturned and set alight in Mayfair [videos]

A video went viral on social media after a bystander recorded a group of protesters first attacked a security vehicle on Bird Street in Mayfair, Johannesburg, and then setting it alight.

The video was initially shared by Lerato Pillay, who captioned it: “Somalian Alshabab rebels in South Africa overturning a security vehicle”. A second video was shared by Hassan Omar Siigale.

A Twitter user, allegedly from the security company, said that the Mayfair community “respects each every one of the Somalian and Ethiopian community”, and explained:

“PROTECTION/METRO and SAP from JHB CENTRAL came with an unmarked Nissan Hardbody. While patrolling the streets around Mayfair members from Johannesburg central police station was patrolling 8th Avenue when they started shooting at people for contravening the regulations.”

The user, Fatima Mayet, added that the security company (ASARS) was “following the convoy through 8th Avenue as police were shooting. ASARS called off the members and the left the convoy”.

Mayet added that they had “a very good working relationship with the community in & around 8th Avenue,” and added that they had a “large client base”.

“After [approximately] 20 minutes, one of our security guards called for backup on 8th Avenue and Bird Str, Mayfair. When our reaction officer arrived on scene, the community blocked our reaction vehicle and started stoning the reaction vehicle they then set the vehicle a light.”

She added that ASARS “would like to reassure everyone that we did not shoot anyone, SAPS was doing the shooting”, which prompted their security guards to leave the scene.

Mayet said the incident “was totally unacceptable”, and added that Mayfair and Fordsburg “is sitting on a time bomb and this is a small taste of what may come”.

Watch: Security vehicle attacked in Mayfair

Mayfair JHB today. Security vehicle attacked. pic.twitter.com/ncjD8dDQec

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 1, 2020

Foreigners protesting at Mayfair, they havd burnt one security vehicle pic.twitter.com/fSzq9uzREl

— Lerato Pillay (@uLerato_pillay) May 1, 2020

‘Foreign nationals’ debate

The video sparked debate about foreign nationals in South Africa, once again. Users took to Twitter to share their views, with a netizen known only as The Other View adding:

“By who? Say it chief! By Somali foreign nationals! We not even sure if they are legal or not! In the history of Mayfair, there has never been such barbaric behaviour until now recently when our borders just received everyone and everyone got permits and asylum!”

Another shared a news report titled Somali-tans: 600 families benefit from generosity of businessmen, which prompted another netizen to remark: “You can’t buy us, South Africa is not for sale!”.

A Twitter user known only as Boeber Percolator asked if “Somalians were not supposed to be repatriated?” Another netizen added:

“Lockdowns have created a situation where the State/government is the principal economic actor. In essence, lockdown countries are now communist as the government tells you which businesses can and cannot operate. Tyranny has crept in. Be vigilant”.