Nine more ‘instigators’ arrested for 2021 July unrest

Nine more instigators linked to the 2021 July unrest were arrested today, Tuesday, 23 August in Gauteng.

NINE MORE INSTIGATORS TO FACE THE MUSIC

According to Police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, this arrest brings the total number of arrested alleged instigators to 44.

“These (nine more) persons of interest will be brought before court soon on charges of conspiracy to public violence, incitement to public violence and incitement to arson,” said Brigadier Mbambo.

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These arrests follow the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s significant inroads in probing alleged instigators in the incitement of public violence through social media and other platforms during the period of unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and other parts of the country.

Prior, the ongoing prosecution-guided investigation resulted in the arrest of 20 people of interest on 11 August 2022.

“Joint police teams were mobilised to execute simultaneous arrests in various areas so as to secure court attendance of persons of interest, spread-out in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, North West, Free State, Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces.”

Mbambo

This multidisciplinary team included the following:

• The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI),
• Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI),
• Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI),
• Digital Forensic Investigation (DFI),
• Priority Crime Management Centre (PCMC) of the Hawks,
• Crime Intelligence (CI), National Intervention Unit (NIU),
• Public Order Policing (POP),
• Tactical Response Team (TRT)
• Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) members.

THE FIRST GROUP OF SUSPECTS APPEAR IN COURT

The 20 arrested suspects have since appeared in the Durban Central Magistrate’s Court on 12 August 2022 on charges ranging from conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit arson.

The National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General (Adv./Dr.) Godfrey Lebeya hailed the investigation and prosecution team for their meticulous work and assured the South African citizens that the team under his command will continue to work without fear, favour nor prejudice.

Although it is unclear whether the police have more suspects put under the microscope, Mbambo said the investigation continues.

This is a developing story.