Violence, Looting & Explosions Continue Overnight as SANDF Fail to Bring Stability

LOCAL NEWS

• Violence, looting and explosions continued overnight into the sixth day as mobs attacked malls, shops, businesses, depots, roadside stalls, trucks, ATMs and hospitals in Gauteng, KZN and more recently Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape – stealing and destroying billions of Rands worth of goods and property.
  • Official deaths hit 72 yesterday, but this number is likely conservative while arrests hit 1,234. SANDF deployed 2,500 troops to KZN and Gauteng, but has seen little effect on quelling the violence.
• Calls growing for govt to do more and implement a state of emergency to bring looting under control.
  • Roads are closed, access to food, fuel and medical supplies is being disrupted and water and power supply is also at risk.
  • Businesses said SANDF deployment had done little to help and was primarily focused on protecting govt infrastructure – leaving citizens to protect their own properties.
• AA has warned SA could face fuel shortages in the coming days as shell & BP (responsible for 35% of SA's fuel refinery capacity) implement force majeure to temporarily shut amid unrest –
• Farmers also warn of food shortages as looters hit trucks carrying produce and burn local farms
• State owned insurance company Sarisa expects to pay out between R3-7bn in claims due to ongoing violence and says it is adequately capitalised.
  • However, many stores will likely never reopen or receive insurance payouts as many insurers do not cover political unrest