NatJOINTS reports six deaths and 219 arrests since outbreak of KZN, Gauteng riots

South African government intelligence body, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, says there’ve been reports of six deaths since the outbreak of violent protests in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Spokesperson, Brenda Muridili, says the bodies of four people have been found in Gauteng, two of them with gunshot wounds. A security guard had also been fatally assaulted.

The bodies were found in Alexandra, Jeppestown, Dobsonville and Germiston.

Two other deaths were reported in Inanda and Umbilo in KwaZulu-Natal.

Muridili says they’re investigating the circumstances leading to the deaths and have stepped up operations.

“The total number of people that have been arrested as of this morning is 219, with 96 in Gauteng and 123 in KwaZulu-Natal. The NatJOINTS has intensified deployments in all the areas in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal affected by the violent protests as the damage to property and looting of stores continued overnight. Gauteng police are investigating the circumstances into the deaths of four people since the break out of violent protests. In KwaZulu-Natal there is a report of two people who have been killed so far,” she says.

Police have their hands full in Cinderella Park in Pietermaritzburg as a gas cylinders factory has been torched which is right next door to a fuelling station. People continue to loot despite the danger. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/eQwAO9kCRz

— Jayed-Leigh Paulse (@JayedLeigh) July 12, 2021

Muridili says the extent of damage to property and the looting of businesses will be determined at a later stage.

[HAPPENING NOW]#JHBSHUTDOWN

Looting continues at a Mall in Katlehong.#JHBViolence #SABCNEWS pic.twitter.com/Sq5qjuImml

— Chriselda ‘Babes We Ndaba’ Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) July 12, 2021