KZN & Gauteng unrest: NPA ‘instructed’ to oppose bail for looters

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been told to deny bail for the more than 1,200 people that have been arrested in connection with the ongoing riots that have rocked parts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng.

This was announced by the Presidency, which said the NPA was putting together a team of special prosecutors who will be dealing with the cases.

“The law enforcement agencies have also been tasked to enforce the Disaster Management Act regulations, especially ensuring observance of the curfew, which is from 9pm to 4am daily,” the presidency statement said in a statement on Tuesday evening, 13 July 2021.

President Cyril Ramaphosa met with various sectors of society, including religious leaders, on Monday and Tuesday and is due to hold other meetings with political leaders and other groups on Wednesday.

“The religious leaders expressed support for the deployment of the SANDF to support the police in stabilising the situation, and also called for a comprehensive response to the societal conditions enabling the events unfolding around the country”

The Presidency

Over the past few days, South Africa has seen sporadic protests and looting in both provinces, during which shops, malls and other business establishments have been targeted.

The unrest started out as demonstrations demanding former president Jacob Zuma’s release from prison in KZN,  but soon morphed into looting sprees, which then spread to parts of Gauteng. The unrest has sadly not been without bloodshed as 72 people have already been confirmed dead, while a total of 1 234 arrests have been made thus far (549 of these made in KwaZulu-Natal and 683 in Gauteng).

KZN and Gauteng looting: NPA warns of the consequences

All the developments come as the NPA sent a stern warning over the looting sprees in Gauteng and KZN, saying it will not hesitate to act against the perpetrators.

“The national director of public prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi, has condemned the acts of violence and incitement to commit public violence that have been ravaging the country,” said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.

Mhaga said the NPA would use experienced prosecutors to collaboratively work with law enforcement to prioritise the cases.

“These are prosecutors who have handled cases of this nature before and we are confident that as they come through the system, they will be meticulously prosecuted. This will depend on a formidable case presented to us by law enforcement,”

NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga