Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are on fire as shutdown riots have spilled into the new week with added threats of the unrest spreading across other parts of South Africa (SA).
UPDATE: The Ministry of Defence has released a statement confirming the deployment of SANDF operatives in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).See full statement here.
SA shutdown: What’s fuelling the unrest?
Law enforcement has been stretched thin in the two provinces where riots have broken out since Friday 9 July 2021.
‘Free Jacob Zuma’ has become the banner with which these shutdown riots have continued under. While no formal statement has been released by the Jacob Zuma Foundation, claiming responsibility for the violence, the organisation’s Twitter account, and that of his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sobandla, has fuelled the incendiary we’ve witnessed.
Zuma Laws
— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) July 11, 2021
* Jailed without trial.
* No right to appeal.
* No right to remain silent
* No right to cross examination
* No right to be treated fairly
* No right to mitigate sentence
What kind of justice is this?#WenzenuZuma pic.twitter.com/y0a006bJJk
When/If You Call On SANDF As A Proxy Leader Of WMC You Must Admit That You Have No/Lost Control And You Are Not A Leader! There Is No War Here. No Need For The Army. Our People Are Just Hungry And Have No Jobs!
— Dudu Zuma-Sambudla (@DZumaSambudla) July 12, 2021
Police have issued an update on the total arrests made in the shutdown riots. Thus far, from what we understand, more than 219 suspects have been charged with public violence related to the SA shutdown this past weekend.
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) is working around the clock to enhance operational capacity at provincial level in response to incidents in which people appear to be undermining the authority of the State, including the flouting of the DMA Regulations,” the police revealed in a statement.
Watch: SA shutdown videos of looting and violence
The videos we have embedded below were taken by a number of eyewitnesses in different areas of Gauteng and KZN, where instances of looting and violence were reported.
We will continue to update this article with more video footage and images as the SA shutdown continues.
KZN #unrest Communities are now fighting back! pic.twitter.com/648VrDWZ1x
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
Parts of the Phoenix community have taken up arms amid #ShutdownSA. At least 5 people accused of looting are dead. Several cars torched. Armed residents, who forced us to leave, say they are “just protecting their families.”
— Dasen Thathiah (@DasenThathiah) July 12, 2021
Extremely volatile situation. Stay away. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/ID7zOjZn1V
A few minutes ago at Tops Pietermaritzburg pic.twitter.com/crZRfem6WC
— Nomsa Maseko (@nomsa_maseko) July 12, 2021
#ShutdownSA This is how empty the N3 towards Howick is. The freeway way is closed due to escalating violent protests. There is no economic activity in Pietermaritzburg as all business are closed. Shops, malls & factories looted. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/tm8P8GkVKK
— Siphamandla Goge (@SiphamandlaGoge) July 12, 2021
Soweto looting pic.twitter.com/4PTe1k8Upr
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
Umkomaas KZN #unrest pic.twitter.com/u5ZJUISl9N
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
DAVENPORT RD CHECKERS, CASH CRUSADERS & LIQUOR STORE pic.twitter.com/vQ5ha20i8I
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) July 12, 2021
VAAL.MALL pic.twitter.com/PrqWHkcpmR
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) July 12, 2021
DUNLOP WAREHOUSE : KZN pic.twitter.com/moT026KS3C
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) July 12, 2021
Live visuals coming from Point Rd Shoprite in Durban CBD. Non stop looting throughout the night into the morning. No police presence.
— Leanne Manas (@LeanneManas) July 12, 2021
(Visuals sped up) #ShutdownSA pic.twitter.com/E8E1liGELl
AND THEN THERES THIS… pic.twitter.com/B9z734JKMo
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) July 12, 2021
Verulam KZN. #Unrest pic.twitter.com/u3Skraf2ce
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
WATCH: This is Bridge City Mall in KwaMashu. A free for all, no @SAPoliceService around. People are coming through with crates, packets and loading up vans with all sorts of items. @News24 #ZumaUnrest (@kaveels) pic.twitter.com/44nH5rUZRP
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) July 12, 2021
WATCH:A short while ago on the N2 northbound in Durban. People were throwing debris onto the freeway. Officers stopped and shot rubber bullets at them while clearing the roadway. #ZumaUnrest @News24 (@kaveels) pic.twitter.com/WNxvNmR1wA
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) July 12, 2021
KZN #unrest pic.twitter.com/En5V1Etpux
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
KZN #unrest pic.twitter.com/VMtlGb3IX1
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
Gathering: Fordsburg JHB. pic.twitter.com/eTnkFDl4hl
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
Pietermaritzburg mass looting. No police in sight. @CyrilRamaphosa @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/P16gxaMbQN
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
Actonville Benoni #unrest pic.twitter.com/XTSVFKhRCt
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 12, 2021
Hillcrest pic.twitter.com/9PWKy1bGbE
— Kelly (Not Rowland) (@KellyNgwazi) July 12, 2021