By Kaya 959 News
One person has been arrested in connection with instigating a wave of riots that saw parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal under siege by looters.
Acting minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said 12 alleged instigators have been identified and one is in police custody.
“The SAPS tracking team has increased the surveillance of the remaining 11,” she said.
Ntshavheni was speaking at a briefing on the latest developments regarding the riots.
She said calm has been restored in Gauteng thanks to the deployment of the SAPS and SANDF as well as other law enforcement officials.
“Police have, in total, arrested 725 people in Gauteng with 26 deaths reported. While in KZN, 1478 people have been arrested and 91 people have died,” she said.
READ: Clean-up operations get underway in Gauteng and KZN
KZN remains volatile
The situation in KZN remains volatile but much improved towards stability.
“The government would like to commend the collaboration between the police and community through established platforms such as Community Policing Forums and community in blue,” Ntshavheni said.
The Ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Safety (JCPS) Cluster travelled to KZN to work with the provincial government to “assess and monitor the situation on the ground and attend to arising issues”.
“Of concern to us as government are the reports of racial tensions in areas such as Phoenix, Durban. The ministers have visited the area and engaged various stakeholders to resolve racial tensions,” she said.
“Furthermore, members of the SANDF and the SAPS have been deployed in the area to restore law and order in the area. We call all South Africans involved in the altercations to bridge the racial barriers and work together towards a common goal of protecting South Africa.”
READ: 72 killed in riots across Gauteng and KZN
Economic impact
Ntshavheni said government is also “concerned about the economic impact of the violence, looting and destruction of infrastructure”.
“Over the past few days, the main routes have been blocked by protesters with stones and other dangerous items. Of key concern is the effect on the supply chain value-chain and movement of goods from Durban and Richards Bay ports to various destinations.
“The members of the SANDF have been deployed specifically to protect the national key points and SAPS are providing escorts for the transportation of the supplies of oxygen, medicines and other key goods that have to reach all parts of the country,” she said.
