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Report incidents of incitement

Government has called on the public to report incidents of incitement and acts of violence to the police.

This as violent protests take place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, with protestors destroying public and private infrastructure.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has condemned the violent riots.

“Today is a sad day for Alex FM and the community at large after its broadcast equipment and related items were looted. The radio station has been serving the Alex community faithfully for about 27 years and is the voice of the residents of Alexandra,” GCIS Acting Director-General Michael Currin said on Tuesday.

Two days ago, a SABC news crew was also robbed of its equipment while covering protests in Alexandra.

“The violence, looting and destruction to property needs to stop now! Violence is never the answer. The media plays a crucial role to the economic and political development of citizens and it creates a broad range of information to stimulate citizens on the various developmental issues in their country,” Currin said.

South African media, Currin said, provides a platform to amplify the public’s voices, facilitate meaningful participation, and foster social change.

“We need to work together to build our country. We cannot destroy what we have worked so hard to build,” Currin said.

The GCIS has called on religious leaders, traditional leaders, trade unions, businesses, community organisations, as well as political parties to help to calm the situation.

“Calm and order will be restored so that the task of rebuilding this country and creating a better life for its people continues. Government encourages members of the public to report incitement and acts of violence to the police by calling 08600 1011.

“Remember COVID-19 is still with us. We still need to protect ourselves by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and washing or sanitising our hands,” the GCIS said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Situation remains calm in Limpopo, says Premier

With the violent protests taking place in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha says the situation in the province remains calm.

“So far, only one truck was torched in Dennilton last night. Police have been able to disperse a mob that was trying to loot Dennilton mall,” Mathabatha said on Tuesday.

Addressing a media briefing on the province’s response to the ongoing public violence in the country, he said the security cluster has information on people who are trying to cause public violence in the province and they are being monitored, as well as attended to.

“We call upon people to not live in fear because the government will safeguard their lives and property. Our people must work together and report all incidents and threats coming from their places of residence and work, and across the spectrum,” the Premier said.

A report from the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster indicates that the province is ready for any eventuality that may arise.

“The South African Police Service (SAPS) is ready to deal with any dissidents who may wish to spoil our provincial resolution that we will not be part of any destruction of property and public violence.

“Destruction in its very nature brings along unintended consequences that are unfathomed, therefore as Limpopo, we urge our communities to be vigilant and be on high alert.

“As a province, we cannot afford to interrupt our COVID-19 rollout programme and we will not be part of the public violence,” Mathabatha said.

He encouraged citizens to adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 and avoid gatherings.

The Premier condemned the public violence that has taken place, as it infringes on the rights of South Africans.

“These acts of violence result in the destruction of property, destroy lives and livelihoods and in the main, infringe on the human rights of other citizens, as enshrined in the Constitution.

“The public violence we are experiencing equally affects us negatively. Today, most of our law-abiding citizens are living in fear and that cannot be allowed in our constitutional democracy,” Mathabatha said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Gauteng Premier calls on community leaders to help quell looting

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has called on the community and political leaders in the province to join hands with law enforcement agencies to stop the looting and destruction to property in the province.

“We must make sure that this looting stoops,” Makhura said during his visit to the Meadowlands Police Station in Soweto, where a nearby mall- Ndofaya Mall – was looted.

Looting at the mall continued during the Premier’s visit.

Makhura said looting has also happened in schools, where technology equipment has been stolen.

A total of 10 people died during the looting incidences and a total of 279 people were arrested for looting in Gauteng.

Among those who died is a Gauteng Metro Police officer, who was shot by looters in Kathorus. The officer was shot while responding to a call of looting at a mall.

Makhura said the looting has severely affected businesses in Soweto.

“Businesses have been severely affected and the business community here have closed their businesses because they are afraid of the looters,” Makhura said.

Makhura, accompanied by the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko and senior police officials conducted a walkabout at the mall.

The Premier’s visit was to assess the extent of damage caused to property.

Countrywide, over 757 people have over the past five days been arrested for the wanton destruction and looting of businesses and properties in KwaZulu-Natal and in Gauteng.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Defence Minister: State of Emergency only to be declared when need arises

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says the President will only declare a State of Emergency when the need arises.

While the Minister strongly condemned the current looting and damage to infrastructure, she did not believe the situation warrants a State of Emergency.

“For now, I don’t think there is an indication that there should be a State of Emergency,” she said on Tuesday.

Mapisa-Nqakula was speaking during a briefing by Ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster amid public violence flare-ups in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“If the time comes, informed by intelligence gathered and coordinated by the three entities [SAPS, Defence and State Security], the President will be advised and [only] then would he declare a State of Emergency, if the need arises, based on that assessment report.”

The Minister acknowledged that the situation is grave, and the nation is duly panicked.

“… We’re all concerned about what is happening… A… State of Emergency [however means that]… you take all the liberties from the citizens and the military takes over the country. For now, we don’t think we’ve reached that point,” she explained.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the South African Defence Force (SANDF), the President has deployed the army in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in support of the operations of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Mapisa-Nqakula said the number of soldiers mobilised is far less than those who were deployed during the COVID-19 hard lockdown.

She said an ongoing assessment is taking place behind closed doors to make decisions about the number of soldiers who will be deployed on the ground.

“When we talk numbers, we also have to talk possible expenditure incurred for the deployment of those people… We’re informed by intelligence, and then [we will] decide about what kind of strength we need for deployment, and then we will make an announcement.”

The deployment of soldiers

Major General Siphiwe Lucky Sangweni said the SANDF conducts deployment operations inside the country in support of the SAPS and to assist other State departments.

“SAPS and other law enforcement agencies will conduct their work and when there is a situation that requires or warrants that the military assists and supports as the security cluster, then the call will be made then,” he explained.

According to Sangweni, this involves conducting assessments and then the decision is sanctioned by the President.

“It’s the President that will authorise the deployment of military internal operations.

“It will not be correct that the military is at the forefront in terms of law enforcement and dealing with criminality in the country,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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UPDATE: Graaff-Reinet detectives hunt murder suspect

Graaff-Reinet Detectives have arrested a 26-year-old man for the murder of Mrs Karen Marais. The suspect was arrested on Sunday, 11 July 2021.

The suspect is due to appear in Graaff-Reinet Magistrates’ Court today, Monday 12 July 2021.

Source: South African Police Service

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Maletswai police station open again

Maletswai police station is now fully operational and the public can access services at the station.

The SAPS Management appreciates the patience of the community and assures them that the closure of a police station for decontamination is necessary so as to curb the spread of the virus.

Source: South African Police Service