More than 350 people were killed in just over a week of violence last year, and goods worth billions of rand were lost to looting.
FILE: On July 12, 2021, rioters ransacked the Jabulani shopping center in Soweto. South Africa’s army said on Monday it was deploying troops to two provinces, including the economic hub of Johannesburg, to help police deal with deadly violence and looting sparked by riots sparked by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, which entered its fourth day. Photo: Luca Solo / AFP
JOHANNESBURG – The South African Police Service on Thursday said 20 suspects arrested for allegedly inciting violence last July had been detained simultaneously in six provinces to ensure their joint appearance at the Durban Central Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
More than 350 people were killed in just over a week of violence last year, and goods worth billions of rand were lost to looting.
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A multi-disciplinary team from at least 10 agencies, including the Hawks, Serious Crime Investigation and Crime Intelligence, among others, launched simultaneous raids on Thursday.
Hawks Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said: “Joint police systems have been mobilized to carry out simultaneous arrests in various areas to ensure the court appearance of persons of interest in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, North West, Free State, Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces’.
Calls for the arrest of the instigators of violence were heard more and more often.
The Major Crimes Investigation Department said it had made significant progress in tracking down the alleged ringleaders through social media and other platforms.
Hawks national manager Godfrey Lebeya praised the investigation and prosecution team for their thorough work.
