President Cyril Ramaphosa during operation clean-up and rebuild following days of looting and anarchy at Ndofaya Mall on Mandela Day on July 18, 2021 in Soweto, South Africa. This forms part of the Mandela Day Programme. President Cyril Ramaphosa also assessed damage caused by the looting and vandalism and engaged with affected communities. Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 19 July 2021

In the latest news on Monday 19 July 2021, South Africa will be hoping for a return to relative normality, after beginning the week by honouring Nelson Mandela.

by Adrian Ephraim

19-07-2021 06:30

in News

Stay up to date with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Monday 19 July 2021.

After a bloody and turbulent week with the riots in KZN and Gauteng, South Africans will be hoping that this week is a lot calmer and peaceful. We couldn’t have asked for a better start, with Mandela Day celebrated on Sunday 18 July – a day when compatriots and communities came together to do their bit in honour of Nelson Mandela. Madiba’s timing was perfect because there was a lot of cleaning up to do, and healing to take place, especially in KZN, where there are still queues for food as supply chains slowly come back online.

Meanwhile, several arrests have been made in connection with the looting and mayhem of last week, but worryingly some areas are still experienced looting. KZN remains on tenterhooks as former president Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial gets underway on Monday, and it is also expected Zuma will be released from prison this week … to attend his brother Michael’s funeral.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Monday 19 July

Riots: Police, SANDF mobilise ‘MAXIMUM resources’ after new threats

Police have now arrested 3407 suspects who are facing various charges related to the riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) said in a statement on Sunday that a total of 3 407 suspects had been arrested on various charges since the riots and violence erupted a week ago, with only one suspect granted bail and 1 122 expected to appear in different courts in the two most affected provinces. The remaining dockets are still under investigation.

Watch: Worship on salvaged piano amid destruction at storage facility

A heartwarming video of a woman playing on a salvaged piano in the middle of a destroyed storage facility in Amanzimtoti has gone viral.

And for all the good reasons. South African has once again shown that united they will stand.

The facility was left a smoldering mess after looters descended on it on Monday evening and tore the place up.

After stealing everything they could take, they set the units on fire, burning and destroying everything they could not carry.

Watch: Cold-storage facility in Hammarsdale in flames as people continue to loot

A cold-storage facility was on fire in Hammarsdale in KwaZulu-Natal, as people continue looting on Sunday afternoon.

According to a report by ENCA the eThekwini fire department had to withdraw as the number of looters grew, and things turned violent.

The department reportedly said it was waiting for police intervention before it goes back to put out the fire.

Three alleged instigators of KZN, Gauteng riots arrested

Police have had a breakthrough in tracking and handcuffing suspects believed to have had a hand in the riots that rocked Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). At least three people have been arrested in connection with the recent unrest, which has been labelled an insurrection.

The arrests were confirmed by Police Minister Bheki Cele on Sunday afternoon, 18 July 2021, in KZN. Cele says the suspects are not part of the 12 people that were mentioned in the previous week.

SASSA latest: Remaining SRD budget to fund food parcels after riots

After confirming that payments for South African Social Securities Agency (SASSA) grant beneficiaries will be able to receive their funds again on 19 July after unrest led to the closure of offices in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng, the agency has also pledged to use the remainder of its budget for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) to provide food parcels to those affected.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) have welcomed the decision, saying that the ANC must ensure that efforts to restore order to the thousands of people affected by the riots are better handled than those on show while the provinces burned.

Snow, wet and extremely cold conditions in 5 SA provinces this week

Snow is expected to fall over the high-lying areas of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Drakensberg this week, with minimum temperatures below zero in the country’s inland regions.

Meanwhile, snow fell in the Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve – located two hours outside Cape Town on the Erfdeel farm – on Monday afternoon, 12 July. The Reserve had predicted that the cold front currently engulfing the Cape provinces would bring the first “decent snow of 2021”

Storm Report South Africa said weather models have been quite consistent over the last few days and they feel confident and positive that snow will indeed fall in at least 5 provinces from Tuesday, 20 July. However, forecasts may change.

“Today weather models are suggesting more snow in the target areas with models suggesting snowfall over 30cm over the Western Cape mountain ranges. Snowfall is expected to start Tuesday afternoon and last until at least Friday.”