62 arrested for violent protests in KZN, Gauteng
Police in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and have made dozens of arrests following the outbreak of widespread violent protests in the two provinces.
The protests, borne from anger over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, began in KZN on Friday and has since spread to Gauteng.
In KwaZulu-Natal the number of arrests now stand at 37.
"This is in response to incidents of opportunistic criminality and violent protests in the two provinces over the weekend," says police spokesperson Brenda Muridili.
“Police working closely with metro police have overnight, been able to disperse crowds and foil attempts to barricade roads. No further looting has been reported.
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure is working around the clock to enhance operational capacity at provincial level in response to incidents in which people appear to be undermining the authority of the State, including the flouting of the DMA Regulations.
In Gauteng, an investigation into the the death of a 40-year old man.
"Police in Gauteng alongside members of Johannesburg metro police on Saturday night responded swiftly to sporadic incidents of looting of businesses and barricading of roads in Jeppe and Alexandra, and arrested 25 suspects,” says Muridili.
"In Alexandra, police arrested 18 suspects - 16 of them for public violence also linked to the shooting of a police officer who was rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention.
"Two other police officers sustained minor injuries."
