The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) will on Tuesday brief the media on the violent protests taking place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Monday evening on the violence and looting that has hit some of the South African provinces.
Crowds of people have been looting shops and malls in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the statement, the cluster will outline the measures underway to deal with the situation and restore law and order in all affected areas.
The cluster says the measures to be outlined include the recent deployment of the defence force to act as force multiplier to the existing law enforcement agencies who have been dealing with these criminal acts.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa says there is a danger that the violence and destruction taking place will lead to an even greater surge in COVID-19 infections, putting more lives at risk and placing a greater burden on the health facilities and personnel.
“This violence and destruction takes place in the midst of a devastating pandemic. There is a danger that these events will lead to an even greater surge in infections, putting many more lives at risk and placing a greater burden on our health facilities and personnel,” says Ramaphosa.
Businesses in some parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces continue to bear the brunt of sporadic looting:
Social media posts
South Africans have also been urged to refrain from posting inflammatory messages on social media amid the massive looting and violence.
“We should refrain from posting and circulating inflammatory messages on social media, and from spreading rumours or false reports that may create further panic among our people. No-one should take the law into their own hands.”
The full address by the President is in the video below:
