Images Sourced
By Lwazi Raul
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that government will deploy the South African Defence Force to end violent riots and looting in the country.
In a national address on Monday evening which has been a second from his Sunday Adress Ramaphosa said that the past weekend the public has been violent, looting and burning infrastructure.
“Property has been destroyed, shops have been looted, citizens threatened, and people have died” , he said.
A total of 166 suspects have been arrested in KZN and 323 suspects have been arrested in Gauteng.
“While these actions may have originated from political or ethnic agitating, this has since become opportunistic acts of criminality as a cover for looting and theft,” he said.
To put a stop to the rampant looting and rioting, the president said that new security measures will be introduced.
“Let me be clear: we will take action to protect every person in this country against the threat of violence, intimidation, theft and looting. We will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who perpetrate these actions and will ensure that they face the full might of our law.
“We will restore calm and order so that we can get on with the task of rebuilding this country and creating a better life for its people.”
The address comes a day after Ramaposa announced an extension of South Africa’s adjusted level 4 lockdown by 14 days.
