Scenes from the march in KwaZulu-Natal: A mix of peaceful demonstrations and isolated unrest.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo/ ANA Studio
On June 30, KwaZulu-Natal saw a majority of peaceful marches and a couple of instances of unrest. Amid broader efforts to stabilise areas affected by looting and public violence, over 150 arrests were made for various offences, including contravention of the Immigration Act, looting, and public violence.
This was according to Deputy National Commissioner for Policing and National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) chairperson, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, who provided a situational overview highlighting the operational response to both peaceful protests and isolated criminal activities.
Mosikili said that law enforcement officers worked tirelessly throughout the night to ensure that peace, safety and stability prevailed. Law enforcement identified and quickly dealt with opportunistic criminal elements.
“Overnight, reinforcements were deployed to various parts of Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Western Cape in response to isolated incidents of looting and criminality,” Mosikili said.
She added that law enforcement agencies acted swiftly to stabilise the affected areas, restore order and prevent any further disruption. The situation remains under control, and the areas remain under constant monitoring.
Mosikili said that as of Wednesday morning, a total of 120 marches occurred nationally. Of the marches, 108 were peaceful, while 12 required law enforcement intervention due to incidents of unrest.
She said 21 marches were peaceful in KZN, while two resulted in unrest.
Police reinforcements were deployed across KwaZulu-Natal to manage unrest and ensure public safety.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo/ ANA Studio
The deputy national commissioner for policing said most of the demonstrations remained peaceful, but some individuals sought to exploit Tuesday’s events to commit criminal acts. Their members responded to incidents of looting, robbery, public violence and other criminal activities that emerged.
“More than 900 persons were arrested during (Tuesday's) operations. The majority of those arrested were illegal foreigners, and looting, as a result of law enforcement operations conducted alongside the protests. Some were arrested for public violence, some for harbouring illegal immigrants, business robbery at spaza shops etc,” Mosikili said.
“In KwaZulu-Natal, 153 were arrested for various crimes, including looting, public violence, and contravention of the Immigration Act.”
Mosikili added that police noted that March and March have publicly announced that they will continue marches for the next six months.
“We will continue to monitor every situation, and we’ll continue to support every individual of this country who wishes to exercise his or her right in terms of the Constitution, Section 16, and Section 17 of the Constitution when it comes to the issues of demonstrations, marches, picketing, and any other activity that will be undertaken in that regard,” Mosikili said.
Thousands of marchers made their way through the streets of Durban on June 30.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo/ ANA Studio
Meanwhile, KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that five suspects were arrested in connection with incidents relating to breaking into businesses at Woody Glen in the Mpumalanga township of Hammersdale in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Netshiunda said police quickly responded to reports of a group of people breaking into container tuck shops on Embuthweni Main Road at Unit 4, Mpumalanga township.
“One suspect was arrested inside the tuck shop, whereas the four were cornered and arrested as they attempted to flee. The suspects, aged between 14 and 27 years old, will be charged with malicious damage to property and business burglary,” Netshiunda said.
In another incident, Netshiunda said five others were arrested for breaking into tuck shops owned by foreign nationals and stealing various items. Private security officers apprehended three suspects who were caught in the act. They were handed over to the police and charged.
“Two more suspects were arrested at Madiba informal settlement in Mountain Rise. The fifth suspect was arrested at Thubalethu township in Melmoth for house robbery. He allegedly stormed into a homestead and threatened foreign nationals with a stick and stole their belongings,” Netshiunda said.
“A woman was arrested and charged with assault on police officers and intimidation, whilst another man was also arrested for intimidation after police responded to reports of a foreign national who was being assaulted by a group of people at Burnwood Kwalimaza informal settlement in Sydenham. When police intervened, the woman assaulted police. The arrested suspects will appear in court soon.”