Violent protests

Dozens of rioters have been arrested outside a Makro store that they targeted on Monday. Photograph: WhatsApp video screen grab

Riots: Watch six killed, hundreds arrested in KZN and Gauteng

Hundreds of rioters have been arrested across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal as police, security firms and citizens fought back against looters.

Violent protests

Dozens of rioters have been arrested outside a Makro store that they targeted on Monday. Photograph: WhatsApp video screen grab

Six people have been killed and police have arrested more than 200 people during the ongoing riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng on Monday

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said in a statement released by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS ) on Monday morning that six people had been killed and police had arrested 123 suspects in KwaZulu-Natal and 96 suspects in Gauteng.

A video of dozens of r suspects arrested outside a Makro store following riots can be viewed here:

“The NatJOINTS has intensified deployments in all the areas in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal affected by the violent protests as the damage to property and looting of stores continued overnight,” Muridili said.

“The NatJOINTS is receiving Intelligence support from its Intelligence Coordinating Committee comprising of SAPS Crime Intelligence, Defense Intelligence as well as State Security Intelligence, to enable law enforcement to counter these sporadic violent protests,” Muridili said.

“Gauteng police are investigating the circumstances into the deaths of four people since the break out of violent protests in Gauteng, she said.

Muridili said that on Sunday morning, the police had responded to a call from the Alexandra Clinic where they found a body with gunshot wounds. Later that day, the body of a security guard with assault wounds was found in Jeppestown. The third body was also discovered on Sunday, in the evening in Dobsonville. The fourth body was discovered with gunshot wounds in Germiston. 

“The cause of death for the security guard and as well as the body found in Dobsonville is part of investigations,” she said.

“In KwaZulu-Natal there is a report of two people who have been killed, one in Inanda and the second one in Umbilo. The circumstances leading up to their deaths is under investigation,” Muridili said.

Muridili said that the extent of damage to property caused by the riots and the looting of businesses would be determined at a later stage.