Got a new TV or fridge in the past few days? Bheki Cele wants to see the receipts or you could get arrested

Police minister Bheki Cele has issued a stern warning for residents in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, saying they will have to produce receipts for the new items in their houses or they will be arrested.

Over the past few days, the unrest in both provinces resulted in malls being looted and properties being damaged.

Looting and violence broke out in Gauteng at the weekend after days of protests in KwaZulu-Natal linked to the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma.

Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, Cele said people should start preparing their purchase receipts as proof that the appliances they have in their homes were not part of the looted items.

The appliances include TVs, fridges, washing machines and stoves.

Cele said police will be going door-to-door, searching for the looted items.

“Everybody will have to be able to show us the receipts for those flat screens, fridges and all of that. This is a call we are making now.

“Prepare the receipts because if we come there and there are no receipts and the items were looted, we will loot you out of your house,” said Cele.

According to the acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, 1,478 people have been arrested so far in connection with mass looting in both provinces.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Ntshavheni said 392 arrests were made over Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the cumulative number to 1,478.

More than 700 of these took place in Gauteng.

Of the confirmed deaths, 91 were reported in KwaZulu-Natal and 56 in Gauteng. 

Briefing media on Wednesday, correctional services minister Ronald Lamola warned that the increasing number of looting arrests was putting pressure on holding facilities, including police holding cells.

“At this stage, we still have capacity, but obviously it is going to increase the pressure on our correctional facilities including in the police cells,” said Lamola.

“We are working with the police to ensure we are able to manage the situation.”