Author: web desk

Seventy-two people have as of Tuesday evening died in the ongoing destruction and looting of businesses and violent protests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The number of those arrested in the unrest has risen to 1 234.
Tuesday saw more boots on the ground with the deployment of members the South African National Defence Force and the augmentation of law enforcement officers by the recalling of SAPS members from leave and rest days.
This was in an effort to quell the rampant elements of criminality perpetuated by the looting of businesses and destruction of property.
In a statement, the NatJOINTS said while the violence had not spread to other provinces there was a report from Mpumalanga of an incident of looting and destruction of property in the Matsulu policing precinct where one person was arrested.
“There has also been a report of two incidents in the Northern Cape, Galeshewe where one person has been arrested,” the government structure said.
However, law enforcement in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape had identified areas of threat in an effort to deter possible opportunistic criminality.
“Provincial Commissioners have in the meantime also activated the SAPS social crime prevention strategy and have been engaging with various stakeholders including community based organisations, traditional leaders and the business community in order to amplify current operational plans to best tackle the looting and destruction of property currently prevalent in KZN and GP.
“The total number of people who have lost their lives since the beginning of these protests in KZN on Friday, 9 July 2021 has risen to 72. In KZN there are 27 cases being investigated by the police (murder 14, inquest 13) while the number in GP is 45 (murder 19, inquest 26),” reads the statement.
The NatJOINTS said the greater part of the inquest dockets relate to stampedes that occurred during incidents of looting of shops and malls; while other deaths and injuries were related to ATM explosions and shooting.
The SAPS, Defence and SSA, as co-chairpersons of the NatJOINTS, earlier in the day condemned the attacks on law enforcement officers that claimed the life of Meshack Mahlangu, an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officer.
Seven SAPS members are recovering from injuries sustained while responding to violent protests. Three of the officers were in KZN while the other four were injured in Gauteng.
Meanwhile, police from Soweto operationalised information received from the Intelligence Coordinating Committee which led to the arrest of two on-duty Reservist Constables found in possession of property alleged to have been stolen during the incidents of looting of businesses in Soweto.
“It is further alleged that the two suspects were found off-loading suspected stolen property from a state vehicle,” the NatJOINTS said.
In response to reports of armed community members retaliating against protesters, the NatJOINTS emphasised and reminded the public that although persons are entitled to protect their property and lives, the right to life is protected in the Constitution; and can only be infringed in extremely limited circumstances, in order to, inter alia, protect the life or bodily integrity of the defender.
The NatJOINTS commended the collaboration between the police and community through established platforms such as Community Policing Forums and Community in Blue. The public is urged to continue reporting crime on the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Following the wave of looting and property destruction in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, President Cyril Ramaphosa is this morning meeting political party leaders in a bid to quell the public violence and unrest.
President Ramaphosa has embarked on a round of consultations with the leadership of different sectors of society to develop a society-wide response to the violence and destruction of property.
The outreach supplements the mobilisation of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other law enforcement agencies.
On Monday, government Ministers engaged with business leadership on the situation in the country and agreed on several areas of cooperation.
On Tuesday, President Ramaphosa chaired the meeting of the National Security Council to assess developments around the country and coordinate government’s security response, including intelligence gathering to the widespread criminality.
In the evening, the President, accompanied by several Ministers, met with religious leaders from the different faith communities.
The leaders expressed support for government’s efforts in bringing stability to a number of areas where incidents of unrest are taking place.
The religious leaders supported the deployment of the SANDF to support the police in stabilising the situation, and also called for a comprehensive response to the societal conditions enabling the events unfolding.
Government leaders are also engaging with informal and small business associations, community leaders, traditional leaders and others, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
During yesterday’s evening meeting, religious leaders urged government to consider allowing communities of faith to gather for worship, while observing COVID-19 health regulations, as part of the national effort to restore calm and provide counselling to communities.
President Ramaphosa welcomed the concern expressed by interfaith leaders with regard to events ufolding in the country and welcomed a proposal for a national day of prayer.
Among the developments yesterday, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster indicated that all law enforcement and security agencies, including metro and traffic police, are working together to ensure public order policing, patrolling in identified hotspots and protecting key public and private infrastructure targeted by the perpetrators of violence.
These law enforcement agencies have also been tasked to protect COVID-19 vaccine storage sites, schools and clinics where vaccinations are currently being rolled out.
As at 13h00 on Tuesday, 1 230 suspects had been arrested in connection with public violence and looting.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 547 suspects have been arrested, while 683 suspects are in custody in Gauteng.
The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele and Acting Minister of Health, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, separately visited Alexandra in Johannesburg to assess the situation on the ground.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is putting together a team of special prosecutors, which has been instructed to oppose bail for suspects associated with public violence and economic sabotage.
The law enforcement agencies have also been tasked to enforce the Disaster Management Act Regulations, especially ensuring observance of the curfew, which is from 9pm to 4am daily.
Communities are urged to report any criminal incidences to the SAPS hotline on 08600 10111.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza has called on the police to urgently track down a man who allegedly locked his girlfriend in a shack and set it alight in Ixobho, southern KwaZulu-Natal.

According to reports, the man allegedly set alight the shack he was staying in with his girlfriend in Fairview informal settlement, after the couple had an altercation.

The woman was rescued by neighbours who heard her screams inside the burning shack.

The victim was rushed to hospital with serious burn injuries on her body and unfortunately all attempts by medical practitioners to save the victim’s life failed and she succumbed to her injuries. 

The alleged perpetrator is still at large.

Khoza has condemned the incident and urged the police to work day and night to ensure that the alleged perpetrator involved in this horrible murder is found, so that he can face the law.

“He killed a human being in such a horrible manner and he should never be let off the hook,” Khoza said in a statement on Monday.

The MEC also called on the public to work closely with the police to trace the whereabouts of the alleged perpetrator, warning that “no one should relax while the province is faced by high incidents of gender-based violence (GBV)”.

“Our communities should work with the department to isolate all those involved in GBV. We cannot sit on our laurels while women and children suffer in the hands of criminals who once claimed they loved them,” Khoza said.

She added that GBV incidents are highly unacceptable and embarrassing to the nation, and such incidents have a negative impact on the gains of democracy in the province.

“Currently, we are responding to many cases of women and children murders in the province. This indicates that our people have lost Ubuntu. 

“The other incident that happened in KwaNongoma where a pensioner and her grandchild were stabbed to death by criminals who wanted to rob them of grant money is very concerning. We have full confidence in our police that they will soon track down the perpetrator so that the law would take its course” the MEC said.

Khoza has sent her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the victim. 

“We know the pain the family is going through right now. We wish them strength during this difficult time.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cinemas, museums, gyms and galleries are among industries that will have to shut down until 11 July as the country enters 14 days of Adjusted Alert Level 4 Lockdown regulations.

This much is confirmed in a Government Gazette signed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Gatherings at cinemas, theatres, gyms, fitness centres, conferencing, exhibitions and entertainment centres will not be operational during this period. After 11 July, the provision will be reviewed.

Above this, gatherings at beaches, parks and dams will also be prohibited during this period.

While restaurants, hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts and guest houses would operate, they would also do so at 50% capacity of the available rooms for accommodation. Patrons, read the regulations, are expected to observe distances of at least 1.5 metres from each other when in common spaces.

“Restaurants and other in-house dining facilities may only operate for off-sale consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages,” read the regulations.

Owners and managers of establishments listed in the regulations are urged to ensure compliance.

Failure to do so, the regulations state, “commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment”.

“Any person who attends an establishment for in-house services, and who knows or ought to have known or suspected such attendance is prohibited, commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both.”   

Source: South African Government News Agency