WRAP | Riots and looting: Government to provide food relief to households in need after unrest

July 16 2021 - 22:10

Government to provide food relief to households in need after unrest

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is in the process of providing food relief to households affected by the violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“We are in the process of providing immediate food relief to households. We are targeting areas affected by the looting and where people have no access to food,” he said on Friday night.

The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) would provide food parcels, cash and vouchers to those in need.

July 16 2021 - 21:56

Fellow South Africans, we were poorly prepared: Ramaphosa tells the nation after violent pro-Zuma looting

President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that the country was ill-prepared for the violent protests and looting that broke out in parts of the country after the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma.

Addressing the nation on Friday night, Ramaphosa said the country was going to learn from the violent protests which almost crippled the economy.

He was addressing the nation after his visit to KwaZulu-Natal, where protests first broke out and later spread to Gauteng.

July 16 2021 - 21:24

Looting and violence were a 'deliberate' attack on democracy in SA: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the recent violent protests and rampant looting SA has experienced were a “deliberate, co-ordinated and well planned attack” on the country’s democracy.

“It's clear the events were nothing but a deliberate and well planned attack on our democracy. These actions were intended to cripple the economy of our country and dislodge the democratic state,” Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation on Friday night.

July 16 2021 - 20:19

Banks count the cost of 'six-day war'

Repairing the country's thousands of damaged and vandalised automatic teller machines (ATMs) is expected to take “many weeks”, adding a further cost to the billions of rand lost during civil unrest and looting that has gripped SA.

Over 1,400 ATMs and almost 300 bank branches and post office outlets were vandalised in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal since last Saturday, the Banking Association SA (Basa) said on Friday.

Another 1,300 bank branches were shut from July 12 to 14 in an effort to keep employees safe, the association added.

July 16 2021 - 19:50

Angels take to skies in daring KZN rescue operation

From across SA they descended on Durban in their numbers, in what is possibly the country’s biggest civilian air mercy mission.

For four days squadrons of aircraft from small experimental planes to commercial airlines have been ferrying tonnes of supplies to thousands of people trapped in towns across KwaZulu-Natal.

Marauding mobs had turned large swathes of the province into piles of burning rubble as they raged through towns looting and burning down shops, malls, food warehouses, pharmacies, clinics and schools.

July 16 2021 - 19:13

Trade unions condemn looting and torching of schools in KZN

Trade unions have condemned the looting of schools in KwaZulu-Natal.

“The acts of hooliganism the country has seen this past week is unacceptable. But to destroy schools, especially those with feeding schemes, is at the next level of criminality,” said the SA Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union (Saptu).

“There is no excuse to take away the future of our children,” said Saptu general-secretary advocate Ben van der Walt.

July 16 2021 - 18:32

Free Jacob Zuma campaign vows to continue protests until former president is released

Supporters of jailed former president Jacob Zuma will continue to demonstrate until he is freed, suspended ANC member and the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus vowed on Friday.

Speaking at an online news conference hosted by Yvonne Katsande of online TV station LoveWorldSat on Friday, Niehaus said the free Jacob Zuma campaign would continue to “mobilise the broad base of a huge number of people” in SA.

“We will continue to do so as peaceful and peace-loving citizens within the confines of the law,” he said.

July 16 2021 - 17:37

Former spy boss Thulani Dlomo hands himself over to police: SABC report

Former president Jacob Zuma’s staunch ally and former spy boss Thulani Dlomo handed himself over at the Durban Central police station on Friday, according to a SABC report.

SABC TV captured Dlomo and his lawyer Philani Shangase entering the station on Friday evening.

It is said he took the decision to hand himself over after allegations that he was one of 12 instigators linked to the violence and looting around the country.

July 16 2021 - 17:37

Thousands of rounds of ammunition, explosives could be linked to KZN riots

Law enforcement agencies in violence-torn KwaZulu-Natal have discovered thousands of rounds of ammunition and explosives suspected to belong to people behind the unrest in the province.

This was revealed by acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Friday.

Some of the ammunition is believed to be behind the killings that have come to define the protests and looting in the province.

July 16 2021 - 15:57

Violent pro-Zuma protests and looting cost police R350m

The SAPS has spent R350m in the last few days in a bid to curtail violent looting and protests.

This was revealed by Maj-Gen Leon Rabie in a report to the portfolio committee for police in parliament on Friday.

KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have been engulfed by violent protests and looting which started out as a call for the release of former president Jacob Zuma.

July 16 2021 - 15:54

‘They were too many — thousands,’ looted mall manager tells Ramaphosa

Umlazi Mega City general manager Hope Khumalo told President Cyril Ramaphosa how looters ransacked the mall and cleaned out all stock in 48 hours.

Ramaphosa paid an oversight visit to the mall, south of Durban, to see the damage on Friday.

“They came in that way and started with McDonald’s and Nando’s outside before charging inside the fenced area and overwhelming the security,” Khumalo told the president.

July 16 2021 - 15:28

Durban CBD slowly rumbles back to life after resembling ‘ghost city’

Durban’s central business district was slowly returning to normal on Friday after resembling a ghost city in the wake of days of rampant looting and destruction.

A few businesses opened their doors for the first time this week. 

Public transport, including taxis and buses, was back on the streets in numbers.

July 16 2021 - 15:20

'Stop peddling lies about me': Thulani Dlomo takes on Zizi Kodwa

Former president Jacob Zuma’s staunch ally and former spy boss Thulani Dlomo has challenged deputy state security minister Zizi Kodwa to prove he is one of 12 alleged instigators behind the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Dlomo emerged on Friday after media reports suggested that he was one of the individuals sought by law enforcement agencies in connection with the riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Dlomo, who has been out of the public eye for several years, issued a statement denying any involvement in the widespread chaos.

July 16 2021 - 14:00

Looting aftermath: Hundreds queue to shop at one mall not ransacked in Alex

Scores of people from all over Alexandra on Friday queued for hours to get inside the Alex Mall, which was the last one standing after recent looting and destruction.

There was no social distancing in the almost 1km queue outside the mall, with women and children separated from men.

When TimesLIVE visited, Lucy Jonathan, who runs Lucy’s Kitchen from Alexandra, had been waiting in the queue for almost two hours so she could buy spice for potato chips.

July 16 2021 - 13:47

Medicines, diapers, blood and fuel are priorities for KZN as N3 reopens

The Road Freight Association (RFA) has welcomed the reopening of the N3 on Friday morning and said this would allow the industry to move the essential products that could not be transported since the highway was closed. 

“We are extremely appreciative that the N3 has been opened. It allows us to get the essentials, prioritised for now, moving into the distribution hubs that can then get to the badly affected areas, especially into KwaZulu-Natal,” RFA CEO Gavin Kelly said.

Dave Logan, CEO of the South African Association of Freight Fowarders (SAAFF), said the products which needed to be delivered urgently included pharmaceutical products, diapers, blood and fuel.

July 16 2021 - 13:24

KZN wealthy pay up to R180k to fly out of violence-torn province

Wealthy KwaZulu-Natal residents chartered private planes and fled the province this week amid violent looting and fires which rocked the province and ahead of impending food, medication and fuel shortages.

Driven by fear and anxiety, some residents forked out as much as R180,000 for private flights to Cape Town and R90,000 to Gauteng. 

Pilots at Virginia Airport in Durban North told TimesLIVE they had been overwhelmed with private trips for clients due to the unrest which gripped areas in the city.

July 16 2021 - 12:07

SA FIGHTS BACK | 10 stories you need to read about SA uniting to fight looting & clean up after unrest

After a week of chaos and violent protests that led to the destruction of properties and infrastructure, scores of South Africans in communities are uniting behind a cause to clean up in the hope of rebuilding and reopening their local businesses.

The presidency said on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa will conduct an oversight assessment in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.

“The president will interact with the provincial government and security forces. The president’s visit follows government’s engagement throughout the week with different sectors of society, including organised business, interfaith leaders and political parties represented in parliament,” said the presidency.

July 16 2021 - 11:40

N3 to reopen between Gauteng and KZN but motorists must proceed with caution

Law enforcement authorities have given the all-clear to fully reopen the N3 between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The all-important route connecting the two provinces had to be shut because of civil unrest related to the #FreeJacobZuma campaign which resulted in a large number of trucks being looted and torched.

Thania Dhoogra, operations manager of N3 Toll Concession, said on Friday: “Law enforcement has issued the instruction to reopen the N3 toll route in its entirety between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.

July 16 2021 - 11:39

WATCH | Chester Missing questions Duduzane Zuma’s ‘loot responsibly’ advice

Controversial businessman Duduzane Zuma's advice to looters has seen him criticised by many, with puppet Chester Missing the latest to weigh in.

This week a video of Duduzane advising people to “loot responsibly” went viral online.  

In the twelve-minute-long video shared on Instagram, Duduzane was heard commenting on the violent unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. 

July 16 2021 - 11:06

Government is hot on the trail of the instigators: Ramaphosa

The unrest that gripped KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng was “quite clearly instigated”.

“All of these incidents of unrest and looting were instigated. There were people, who instigated it. Police have a line of sight of what was happening. We are after those people. We have identified some of them,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.

However, he admitted that “we don’t know what their full intentions are”.

July 16 2021 - 10:57

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.

July 16 2021 - 10:56

Thousands of specialised troops flown into KZN

Thousands of SANDF troops are pouring into KwaZulu-Natal en masse on Friday by air to help stabilise the violence-torn province.

Early on Friday morning, members of the navy’s Maritime Reaction Squadron flew into the province, according to social media posts by the SANDF.

Under Operation Prosper the military is deploying 25,000 soldiers, including reserve force members, across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which has also been gripped by deadly violence.

July 16 2021 - 10:30

IN PICS |  Long queues outside  Alex Mall 

Residents form massive queues, 16 July 20201, outside Alex Mall, in Johannesburg.

Residents who haven’t been able to buy groceries all week are lining up ahead of the weekend.  Pictures by Alaister Russell/The Sunday Times

July 16 2021 - 10:09

Massmart says 41 stores looted, four sites set ablaze

South Africa's Massmart said on Friday protesters had looted 41 of its stores and two of its distribution centres, with four sites suffering significant damage from arson, in some of the country's worst unrest in years.

"The full extent of the damage is still being assessed," Massmart said in a statement, adding stores in vulnerable areas had been temporarily closed and it had insurance cover in place to minimise losses.

Reuters

July 16 2021 - 09:36

President Ramaphosa visits KZN amid violent unrest and looting spree

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday visit the City of eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal after days of unrest that have caused enormous damage.

According to a presidency statement on Friday morning, Ramaphosa’s first visit to the province since the outbreak of the unrest late last week was meant to “assess the impact of recent [unrest] and the deployment of security forces”.

Ramaphosa is expected to meet with the provincial government and the security forces, said the presidency.

July 16 2021 - 08:33

Businesses and NGOs to the rescue with 40,000 loaves of bread and 40,000 litres of milk

As residents scrambled for food supplies due to unrest in Durban, at least 20 businesses and non-government organisations and non-profit organisations, including Muslims for Humanity and the Natal Memon Jamaat Foundation (NMJ), distributed 40,000 loaves of bread and 40,000 litres to communities.

Muslims for Humanity chairperson Mohamed Gany said the plan to bring food supplies to Durban from Gauteng began on Tuesday.

By then numerous warehouses, factories and shops had been looted and torched throughout KwaZulu-Natal.

July 16 2021 - 08:13

Thuli Madonsela says protesters were egged on by selfish leaders 'to destroy the little that keeps them going'

The violent protests and looting of businesses in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were instigated by individuals who used the hungry “to destroy the little that keeps communities going”, says Thuli Madonsela. 

The former public protector commended those who have resisted the destruction of infrastructure and looting of businesses in their communities, saying while it is true that millions live in hunger and suffer unemployment, the ransacking of shops and infrastructure are criminal acts masquerading as protests.

“Salute to South Africans standing their ground against thuggery and looting masquerading as protest. It’s true many people are hungry, but being instigated by selfish leaders to destroy the little that keeps communities going, makes no sense,” she tweeted.

July 16 2021 - 08:11

Durban bus service resumes operation in 'low risk' areas

eThekwini Municipality's bus service resumed operations in “low risk” areas on Friday after unrest that gripped the city.

“Following consultation with bus operators, the municipality will reintroduce minimal services based on risk and security assessments to ensure the safety of staff and passengers. Commuters are urged to be mindful that the shortage of fuel, cleanup of areas, and availability of staff might affect operations.

“It is expected that the taxi operators will also begin to run their routes. The city has partnered with the industry to ensure that the ranks are clean for commuters,” said municipal spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo.

July 16 2021 - 06:25

MAKHUDU SEFARA | This country needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror

The ugly scenes of the past week call for earnest introspection from South Africans

July 16 2021 - 06:19

PODCAST | Unpacking SA's looting crisis: Would pardoning Zuma help or hinder efforts to bring calm to SA?

In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, there can only be one topic worth delving into: this week we focus all our attention on SA's current looting crisis and how it came about.

July 16 2021 - 06:10

WILLIAM GUMEDE | Conspiracy or incompetence: why were SA’s security forces so slow to react?

With violence being so obvious a danger after Zuma was jailed, those tasked to protect us have a lot to answer for

July 16 2021 - 06:00

EDITORIAL | Keep the knee-jerk racism as well as the looters at bay

As people start feeling threatened, their latent prejudices come to the fore. This does no-one any good