Zikalala: Nearly 80 killed in KZN violence, looting
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says nearly 80 people have been killed in the province and billions of rands lost due the rioting over the last week.
Zikalala has told the provincial legislature on Thursday that over 1 000 people have so far been arrested.
He has warned that the figures are expected to go up.
Zikalala told MPLs that the exact cost of damage to infrastructure is still being collated.
“If we are conservative, it is around R3 billion or more, the damage in key economic centres and especially in shopping malls, trucks and roads such as the N2 and N3.
“The social cost of damage might come in the form of increased food insecurity, inequality and poverty in years to come. In eThekwini alone, our estimate is that unrest has resulted in R15 billion worth of property, loss of stock worth about R1.4 billion and has placed about 150 000 jobs at risk.”
The premier also apologised for assaulting a looter who was trying to make off with items stolen from a warehouse on Wednesday.
He said he regrets the incident, which was filmed.
Zikalala said public violence has no place in society.
Also Read
