Ramaphosa vows to tighten noose on criminality amid civil unrest

Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday evening following several days of unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Former president Jacob Zuma’s arrest last week sparked protests by pro-Zuma supporters calling for his early release from the Estcourt prion. 

This escalated to widespread looting and violence, the blocking of strategic roads between the two provinces and damage to property.

At least 10 people have died and close to 500 were arrested since the violence began in KZN on Friday. 

Ramaphosa admitted the unrest found its feet in last week’s political developments but slammed the fatal turn of events. 

“At the beginning of this unrest, there may have been some people who sought to agitate for violence and disorder along ethnic lines. We know that the majority of our people have out of principle refused to be mobilised along these lines,” Ramaphosa said. 

“However, what we are witnessing now are opportunistic acts of criminality, with groups of people instigating chaos merely as a cover for looting and theft.  

“There is no grievance, nor any political cause, that can justify the violence and destruction that we have seen in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.”

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Ramaphosa warned the implications would be dire. 

“Shops have been looted and infrastructure destroyed.  This means that our sick cannot get medication from pharmacies, food does not reach supermarket shelves, and health workers cannot go to work. 

“Our vaccination programme has been severely disrupted just as it is gaining momentum. This will have lasting effects on our ability to consolidate some of the progress we were already witnessing in our economic recovery. 

“These disruptions will cost lives by cutting off the supply chains that sustain our food, health and production systems,” Ramaphosa added. 

Earlier on Monday, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure was called to intensify deployments in all the hotspots.

Ramaphosa vowed to tighten security in a bid to restore la and order. 

“In addition to greater visibility and an intelligence-driven presence in potential hotspots, we will be prioritising the prosecution of suspects alleged to be involved in this violence. 

“The National Security Council, which I chair as Commander-in-Chief, will be meeting twice a day to coordinate all measures necessary to restore stability. 

“Let me be clear, we will take action to protect every person in this country against the threat of violence, intimidation, theft and looting.”