Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says one of the 12 alleged instigators of the violent looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has been arrested.
The number of deaths as a result of the ongoing violent protests now stands at 117.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 91 people have lost their lives while 26 of the fatalities are in Gauteng.
Briefing the media in Pretoria earlier on Thursday, Ntshavheni said the police are tracing the other 11 suspects.
“The question around the 12 alleged instigators we want to report that one is already in custody and the SAPS tracking team has increased the surveillance of the remaining 11,” says Minister Ntshavheni.
While calm has been restored in some parts of Gauteng, Ntshavheni says there were six incidents of looting in Gauteng on Thursday. Looting also continued in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Ntshavheni says an additional 392 arrests have been made so far.
“The situation in KwaZulu-Natal remains volatile but much improved is moving towards stability. Overnight to over two hours ago, 39 incidences have been reported and an additional 392 arrests have been made which makes the accumulative of arrests 1 478. Reported deaths that have been linked to the violence are accumulatively 91 in KZN” says Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The minister’s full address is in the video below:
