[LISTEN]: Makhura: Criminal syndicates behind Gauteng looting spree
Gauteng Premier David Makhura says the ongoing looting across the province is the work of well-organised crime syndicates.
Speaking in Alexandra on Tuesday, the premier said criminals are using the unrest in the province as an opportunity to prey on businesses.
This comes after more than 90 people were arrested during the looting of three Gauteng metros on Monday.
Foreign-owned businesses in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) have been rocked by intermittent looting for several weeks.
"We can now see that it was calculated. You can see a bolt cutter was used to cut open the doors here, using also the torch cutter that is often used to cut steel," said Makhura.
"It is very clear that some of these are very well organised criminal syndicates because you can see the kind of stuff to break down and break into these shops."
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This comes after looting in parts of Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) brought the province to a standstill on Monday. READ: Police arrest 110 suspects for violence and unrest Makhura's spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga says provincial police have been given the go-ahead by the Premier to request assistance from the SANDF, should police not be able to bring the situation under control.
Makhura vowed that law enforcement will deal with the matter swiftly.
"The criminals who want to seize this opportunity must be put behind bars."
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