Sharp decline in looting across Gauteng
Police say there was a sharp decline in the number of looting incidents and violent clashes between locals and migrants across Gauteng on Wednesday.
Tensions have been on the rise for at least two weeks with wide-scale looting and violent protest action in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
The violence erupted in Tshwane last week when Jabu Baloyi - a taxi driver - was shot and killed allegedly by foreign nationals.
"There is a dramatic decline in violences as police reinforcement increases," says provincial spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini.
Police deployed more troops to areas most affected, including Tshwane.
"Police have increased deployments to cover all the areas identified as hot spots of violence that has seen several shops being looted, burned and property being looted.
"We are looking at the varius threats in Pretoria and Johannesburg CBD and also parts of the East Rand but those threats didn't materialise," adds Dlamini.
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Tshwane suspends public bus services, again.
Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Roads and Transport, Sheila Lynne Senkubuge, says the decision has been taken in the best interest of the safety of bus drivers and commuters. "We started suspending the services from yesterday until further notice; this is so that we can observe if calm remains in the city," adds Senkugube.