Arrests climb to 37 as protests plague Durban
Protest action was reported in Berea and Umbilo.
PROTEST action continued in Durban on Sunday, July 11 with reports of looting, fires and blocked off roads in Umbilo and Berea.
A total of 37 suspects were arrested across KwaZulu-Natal, adding to 62 arrests made across Gauteng and KZN.
A video circulating on social media showed a burning truck on the corner of Sydney Road and Dalton Road in Umbilo.
There was also protest action reported on Fyfe Avenue and Soper Road in Berea. In a Facebook post, community group, Durban Traffic warned motorists to avoid the area.
“Looting continues and blocking off of roads. Stones were thrown at pedestrians and passing cars,” read the post.
In a statement the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) said police have arrested 37 suspects in KZN since violent protests erupted on Friday, July 9.
Also read: SAPS arrest 27 across province in connection with #KZNShutdown protests
“(SAPS) Police working closely with Metro Police have overnight, been able to disperse crowds and foil attempts to barricade roads. No further looting has been reported. The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) is working around the clock to enhance operational capacity at provincial level in response to incidents in which people appear to be undermining the authority of the State, including the flouting of the DMA Regulations,” read the statement.
According to NatJOINTS, spreading inflammatory messages around the issue could lead to criminal charges.
Also read: Durban supermarket looted
“A warning is issued to those circulating inflammatory messages, inciting violence and lawlessness, that they refrain from doing so. The possibility of criminal charges being instituted against such persons cannot be ruled out, particularly in the event of injury or death that may come as a result of any operational response by the security forces to these incidents of violence and opportunistic criminality,” read the statement.
“The SAPS in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, working closely with their respective local Metro Police departments, have heightened visibility and remain on high alert in response to incidents of opportunistic criminality and violent protests in the two provinces over the weekend,” continued the statement.
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