110 arrested over violence, looting in South Africa

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

MAYHEM continued on Tuesday in Johannesburg, with mobs looting foreign owned shops and attacking foreigners mainly Africans, but South Africa‘s National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) said over 110 people have  been arrested since the outbreak of the violence.

In a strongly worded statement, Natjoints condemned the acts of violence and looting in some parts of South Africa.

“Since yesterday (Monday), sporadic acts of violence were committed in relation to trucks in some provinces and in totally unrelated incidents, there were acts of looting and damage to property at businesses in and around the city of Johannesburg,” read the statement.

The report also stated that 20 people have been arrested in connection with the attacks on trucks, truck drivers, possession of firearms and dangerous weapons and blocking of roads in the harbour of Richard’s Bay, Malvern (outside Durban) and in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.

In Gauteng, more than 90 people were arrested after looters plundered shops and damaged property in Johannesburg and surrounding areas.

The statement added: “These acts of violence are purely criminal and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. These suspects will be brought before courts in their respective areas on a variety of charges including attempted murder, public violence, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition and/or malicious damage to property.

“The Natjoints is calling for maximum sanctions to be imposed on all those found guilty in a court of law.”

Meanwhile, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure has put additional measures in place to ensure that such acts are not repeated.