Death toll climbs to 72 as violence, looting spreads
At least 72 people have died as a result of the ongoing violence and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Sores of people have looted malls and destroyed property in the two provinces for a fifth consecutive day.
Speaking on behalf of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints), the police’s Brenda Muridili said 1 234 people have now been arrested.
A total of 549 were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal and 683 in Gauteng.
“The total number of people who have lost their lives since the beginning of these protests in KZN on Friday, has risen to 72. In KZN there are 27 cases being investigated by the police, while the number in Gauteng is 45.
“The greater part of the inquest dockets relate to stampedes that occurred during incidents of looting of shops and malls; while other deaths and injuries were related to ATM explosions and shooting.”
Muridili says there has been a report of an incident of looting and destruction of property in Mpumalanga.
One person was arrested.
“There has also been a report of two incidents in the Northern Cape, Galeshewe where one person has been arrested. The two latest provinces to be affected, MP and NC, have had their law enforcement officers patrolling identified areas of threat in an effort to deter possible opportunistic criminality.”
Seven injured police officers are recovering in hospital, while in Soweto, two on-duty police officers were arrested.
They were found in possession of suspected stolen property.
ALSO READ
