Durban looters fire at journalists, police

Durban - Police and reporters came under fire after stumbling upon hundreds of people who were looting a general dealer in the Mzansi area of Ntuzuma on Monday night.

The News24 team, while covering the desperate escape of a Somali national with the contents of his store, noticed flashing blue lights in the distance and went to investigate.

“The roads in Ntuzuma are confusing at the best of times so we got lost. We eventually came across another police patrol who said that they would take us to the area,” News24’s Jeff Wicks said.

“Following the police we turned a corner, illuminating nearly 50 people, among them children, who had prised their way into a shop and were looting everything inside,” Wicks said.

Officers rushed out of their vehicle with the news team close behind when rocks began raining down on them.

“It was pitch black and rocks and bottles were hitting the cars from all sides as soon as we got out. We all ducked and managed to scramble back inside before making our escape,” Wicks added.

Their flight was short-lived as a they got trapped and needed to turn around and brave the mob again.

“We were following the police vehicle and as soon as we neared the shop the rocks started again, but this time they were interspersed with gunfire.

"We moved over the debris and flotsam in the road as fast as we could as the shots rang out around us,” Wicks said.

No one was injured in the incident.