Looting & Violence Thaws as Govt Deploys 25,000 Troops, But Social Divisions Still Entrenched

LOCAL NEWS

• Govt set to deploy 25,000 SANDF troops to deal with looting and unrest in KZN and Gauteng as the situation appears to have quietened down slightly overnight.
  • Military have been seen in parts of KZN, Gauteng and Limpopo. Reports say Ramaphosa initially suggested 10k, but opposition parties pressed for more.
  • While looting has slowed, a number of areas are still reporting violence and social distress which may take longer to heal – notably in a town called Phoenix.
  • Food, fuel, medicine and basic services are becoming a larger issue with acute supply shortages resulting in dramatically higher prices for bread and other staples.
• 12 masterminds of the insurrection are current under investigation by govt, with senior leaders saying that strategic burning of infrastructure was coordinated by experienced individuals.
  • Former Zuma loyalists in the state security department (Thulani Dlomo), and Ex-MK operatives have been highlighted as possible key orchestrators, but with a any such situation like this we will need to see more evidence before making assumptions
• Delivery services warn Gauteng panic buying of groceries is exacerbating supply-chain issues – which may take some time to pass.
  • Service delivery in KZN is non-existent with most stores looted or shut
• BNP Paribas says a September rate hike for the SARB is now a possibility, given rising food and oil prices
• SA records 17,489 new covid cases and 453 deaths yesterday