Gauteng Stabilises, But Armed Battles In Residential KZN Rage on Overnight

LOCAL NEWS

• Gauteng seems a lot more stable overnight, however, KZN still remains volatile with a number of riot/looting incidents and buildings set alight overnight.
  • Additionally, reports spoke of an armed group of 25 people clashed with community patrols while looking to ransack or possibly destroy one of the last sources of food in the area – firing live ammunition at residents.
  • Residents say things remain tense in many areas, and the unrest is still not over.
• Parliament set to discuss police response and role of private security industry during looting today with a focus on the possession and use of firearms following footage of extensive use during the unrest.
• A portion of the N3 highway was also closed due to safety concerns.
  • Transnet says key rail lines remain blocked by debris, but the mining industry said it remains intact even though export services via the Durban harbour are yet to resume.
• Govt says it will continue to go all out in its vaccination drive in areas of the country not affected by unrest, but cannot resume in KZN for fear that it will draw criminals to loot the areas in search of medicine amid the current shortage
• SA records 16,435 new covid cases and 377 deaths on Thursday