Violent and destructive behaviour continues to dominate in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) in what started as protests calling for the release of former president Jacob Zuma. The protest action spilled over to parts of Gauteng during the weekend and has now become so dangerous in both provinces that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been called to take action.
Breaking l The SANDF has commenced with pre-deployment processes and procedures in line with a request for assistance received from the NATJOINTS to assist law enforcement agencies deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal Provinces #violentprotest pic.twitter.com/YvuGaVwMHc
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) July 12, 2021
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been deployed to assist the police in both provinces as they try to contain the violence and looting that’s rapidly spreading in each area. The SANDF stated that it was responding to a request from the South African Police Service’s National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.
“It must be emphasised that the SANDF’s deployment objective is to provide safety and a safe working environment for members of the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies whilst they carry out their constitutionally mandated law and order duties. SANDF deployment-related information updates will follow in due course,” the SANDF said in the statement.
According to EWN, the exact number of soldiers who will be deployed has not been announced yet, which the SANDF said would be released after law enforcement agencies like SAPS and other police have done an assessment of the situation.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed that six people have been killed in connection with the protest action while a total of 200 others have been arrested in both provinces.
In a statement, the police said “On Sunday morning, the police responded to a call from Alexandra Clinic where they found a body with gunshot wounds. Later that day, the body of a security guard with assault wounds was found at Jeppestown. The third body was discovered also on Sunday in the evening in Dobsonville while the fourth body was discovered with gunshot wounds in Germiston.”
Two people were reported to have been killed – one in Inanda and the other in Umbilo. Their deaths are still being investigated.
Picture: South African Government